Many drivers find it difficult to accept the idea that their new car arrives with locked features that can only be accessed through a subscription. Like it or not, everything indicates that the trend of offering paid services and features is here to stay in the motor industry. BMW was one of the pioneers and although it ensures that extra power will not be in its offer, other services will be part of it.
Mercedes is the brand that, in the United States, offers an annual subscription of $1,200 so that some of its electric models are more powerful. An option that, at the moment, in Europe is not available for legal reasons. A few days ago Volvo stated that its subscriptions would not go this way and now, BMW has done the same.
BMW will not go the way of Mercedes
Frank Weber, head of technical development for the Bavarian brand, explained at the CES in Las Vegas that BMW’s plans do not include the possibility of offering updates related to the performance of its future electric vehicles Because if you change the horsepower figures of a model that’s already for sale, you have to be held accountable by regulatory authorities.
Probably, the income generated by the subscription fees will not be enough to offset the investment of time and money they would have to do every time they unlocked a model.
Subscriptions increase in the United States
They will not offer extra power, but BMW has expanded the features available by subscription in the US. There are five: remote start, the ‘Driver Recorder’, the ‘Driving Assistant Plus’, the ‘Parking Assistant Professional’ and the ‘Traffic Camera’.
- DriverRecorder: its operation is similar to that of a ‘dash cam’ since on video the environment is in 40-second clips
- Driving Assistant Plus: This system encompasses different intelligent driver assistance systems such as lane control and steering assistant, the latest generation active cruise control with Stop & Go function, road junction warning systems and a lane keeping assistant with active side impact protection.
- Parking Assistant Professional: with it, the driver has help to find a place with the ideal dimensions and conditions to park. In addition, you can also receive help to perform this maneuver thanks to the sensors and audiovisual devices that it integrates.
- Traffic Camera: With it, the vehicle can warn the driver, in advance, about the speed limits, remind him of what they are, check what the maximum is on the road, alert him to traffic light cameras or inform him of possible black spots.
Different subscription formulas
Most of these BMW functions are available through a monthly, annual, three-year subscription and can also be purchased permanently for a one-time fee. As revealed motor authority, remote start is priced at $10 a month, $105 a year, $250 for three years, or can be purchased for $330 to keep it available for the life of the vehicle. The Traffic Camera, however, is only available through a $25 annual subscription.
