ArenaEV.com ArenaEV.com

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

RSS

Settings
Units
Power
Standard
Consumption
Currency

Log in

Login

I forgot my password
Sign up
ADVERTISEMENTS

BMW drops heated seats subscription amid backlash

  • Post your comment
  • Comments (2)

Vlad, 09 September 2023

BMW

Car makers are generally desperate about two main things these days - hopping on the EV train, and trying to somehow make subscriptions a thing (with their eyes on all the money that companies in completely unrelated fields are making from that model).

BMW has been at the forefront of both, and everyone remembers it starting to charge customers for heated seats last year, right? Well, that's gone now. The 'feature' only survived one winter, and barely. BMW, to its own shock, found that people don't want to pay for that sort of stuff, and so it's taken the heated seats subscription off of its online stores.

BMW drops heated seats subscription amid backlash

This wasn't widely available across the world, but it was offered to customers in the UK, Germany, New Zealand, Korea, and South Africa at least, through BMW's digital stores for those countries. Prices varied by territory, but it was about $18, give or take, for a monthly subscription, around $180 for a full year, $300 for three years, and $415 for unlimited access.

Going forward, you'll still pay for heated seats, but only once when you buy the car - either for this feature on its own or as part of a package.

Before you celebrate too much, keep in mind that BMW is only shying away from this specific type of subscription - one where you pay for a hardware feature that was already physically present in the car even when you didn't use it.

BMW drops heated seats subscription amid backlash

The company will still gladly take your money for subscriptions to software things like parking assistance or other active safety features. BMW's board member for sales and marketing Pieter Nota told Autocar that they "thought that we would provide an extra service to the customer by offering the chance to activate that later, but the user acceptance isn’t that high. People feel that they paid double – which was actually not true, but perception is reality, I always say. So that was the reason we stopped that".

Source

Related articles
  • BMW iX and i4 now have in-car gaming support using your smartphone as a controller BMW iX and i4 now have in-car gaming support using your smartphone as a controller
  • The BMW Vision Neue Klasse - where tradition meets tomorrow The BMW Vision Neue Klasse - where tradition meets tomorrow
  • BMW unveils its cheapest electric SUV yet - iX1 eDrive20 BMW unveils its cheapest electric SUV yet - iX1 eDrive20
  • BMW iX5 Hydrogen undergoes grueling testing in the desert BMW iX5 Hydrogen undergoes grueling testing in the desert

Reader comments

  • Fearghast
  • snb
  • 09 Sep 2023

Considering the state of BMW software, it probably was incredibly easy to jailbreak it.

  • Reply
?
  • Anonymous
  • gDf
  • 09 Sep 2023

some hacker already hacked a car and unlocked all those subscription features.

  • Reply
  • Read all comments
  • Post your comment
Total reader comments: 2

  • Home
  • Compare
  • News
  • Terms
  • Reviews
  • About us
  • Tesla
  • Volkswagen
  • Audi
  • Porsche
  • BMW
  • Mercedes
  • Hyundai
  • Kia
  • Genesis
  • Renault
  • Nissan
  • Ford
  • Volvo
  • Polestar
  • Jaguar
  • Toyota
  • Mazda
  • Mini
  • MG
  • Vinfast
  • Lucid
  • Rivian
  • Cadillac
  • Chevrolet
  • GMC
  • Subaru
  • Nio
  • Xpeng
  • BYD
  • [..]

EV finder

ADVERTISEMENTS

Latest models

  • ModelXiaomi
    YU7 Max
  • ModelNissan
    Leaf 75kWh
  • ModelTesla
    Model S Plaid
  • ModelNissan
    Micra EV 52kWh
  • ModelTesla
    Model X Plaid
  • ModelGenesis
    GV60 Performance AWD

Featured

  • Why electric cars don't have conventional gearboxes Why electric cars don't have conventional gearboxes
  • Can hydrogen fuel cells replace EV batteries? Can hydrogen fuel cells replace EV batteries?
  • Audi Q8 55 e-tron alternatives - BMW iX xDrive50 and Polestar 3 LR Audi Q8 55 e-tron alternatives - BMW iX xDrive50 and Polestar 3 LR
  • Grand test: Which is the fastest EV? Grand test: Which is the fastest EV?
  • VW ID.4, Audi Q4 and Skoda Enyaq - three identical yet so different EVs VW ID.4, Audi Q4 and Skoda Enyaq - three identical yet so different EVs
ADVERTISEMENTS

Reviews

  • Peugeot e-2008 Facelift review Peugeot e-2008 Facelift review
  • Peugeot e-3008 GT Electric review Peugeot e-3008 GT Electric review
  • Tesla Model Y Long Range 2023 review Tesla Model Y Long Range 2023 review
  • Fiat 500e review Fiat 500e review

Home News Compare About us RSS feed Facebook Twitter Instagram

© 2022-2025 ArenaEV.com Mobile version EV Finder Glossary Privacy Terms of use

From the team behind
GSMArena.com