BMW: New subscription models cost US customers thousands of dollars
Created: 01/12/2023, 16:11
By: Lisa Mayerhofer
The BMW X1 with a new double screen.
The Bavarian car manufacturer has launched a subscription service with five vehicle functions in the USA.
© Fabian Kirchbauer/BWM
The Bavarian car manufacturer BMW has launched a subscription service with five vehicle functions in the USA.
Starting the engine remotely costs about a hundred euros a year.
Munich - "The car is not an iPhone on wheels," emphasized BMW boss Oliver Zipse currently on the sidelines of the CES technology fair in Las Vegas.
But similar to the use of smartphones, subscription models are increasingly being offered for special functions in cars, which have to be paid in addition to the purchase price.
BMW's new subscription model in the USA shows where the journey could also be heading for German motorists.
Parking assistant for 220 dollars: BMW starts subscription service in the USA
Because the Bavarian car manufacturer has a subscription service with five in the USA
Vehicle functions started.
Most functions can either be booked via a monthly or annual subscription or can be purchased for a one-off fee.
All together would cost about 1674 dollars (1548 euros).
According to the American specialist magazine
motorauthority.com
, these are the following features:
Remote engine start, costs include: $10 a month, $105 a year, or a one-time fee of $330.
Driver Recorder (data recording of journeys, e.g. before an accident), costs include: 39 dollars a year or 149 dollars once
Traffic camera function (speed camera warning), costs: 25 dollars per year
Park Assistant, costs include: 5 dollars a month or 220 dollars once
Driving Assistant Plus (several driver assistance systems), costs include: $20 a month or $950 once
Hackers want to unlock BMW functions
There are also subscription models for German BMW customers: you can use the seat heating for 180 euros a year, among other things.
This creates a new situation for drivers – they regularly have to make additional payments if they want to use certain additional functions.
Because: The seat heating is already installed in the car, but can only be used against payment.
For car manufacturers, on the other hand, this offers new, regular revenue opportunities.
These plans are met with resistance online.
A community of hackers told
Vice Motherboard
magazine that as a service they can unlock the functions in the BMWs free of charge if buyers request it.
