Posted on 08/19/2025 9:39:59 AM PDT by packagingguy
Volkswagen is now offering owners of its ID.3 EV hatchback the option to boost their car’s performance — for a monthly subscription fee. Instead of following the traditional model of offering improved performance through upgraded components, VW has locked its car’s true potential behind a software subscription.
Auto Express reports that German automaker Volkswagen has introduced a subscription-based model for unlocking the full potential of its ID.3 electric car, a new model available in the UK. While the ID.3 Pro and Pro S models are listed on the configurator as producing 201 horsepower, buyers must pay a monthly subscription fee of £16.50 ($22.29) to access the car’s maximum output of 228 horsepower.
This subscription, which comes after a one-month free trial, is nearly three times the cost of a standard Netflix subscription with ads. Owners can also opt for a lifetime subscription priced at £649 ($877), which remains tied to the vehicle even if it is sold.
Volkswagen states that the performance upgrade increases the net power by 27 horsepower and the maximum torque from 265Nm to 310Nm without affecting the car’s range. As the ID.3 is registered at 228 horsepower from the factory, owners are not required to inform their insurance company about the upgrade.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
It's not like they have a reliable product so you're better off buying a Japanese car anyhow.
Somebody will hack it and charge $50 a car...............
Heated seats have serious drawbacks for some.
Why not just rent cars instead of selling them? Oh, right, we do that already.
IBM pioneered it with mainframes. Pay the minimum and get an artificially constrained computer. Pay up and get its full capabilities.
The plan is to rent self-driving cars by the hour. No options.
It is the alure of ARR (Annual Recurring Revenue) driving this. A predictable stream of income is sometimes more attractive even than profit, at least from an accounting standpoint.
I agree...a hacking will occur. But when you have issues, and bring the car to the garage...once hooked up, they will find the hack code, and then tell you the warranty is busted. Then what?
This is driven to anticipate you will hack, and they will dump you for repairs early on.
Exactly, well said. And like how many people need or even notice a difference in an extra 27 horsepower. Like GM offering 3 different V6 engines with a total horsepower range difference of 30 HP. People are gullible.
“...for a monthly subscription fee” I exactly what Microsoft Office 365 is doing. Ditto with some other software companies are trying. Long term it will serve to piss off customers.
I suspect car companies which do not hinder the cars performance will do better in the marketplace.
I actually like it. You can try it out for a cheap monthly price, and if you like it pay the life-time fee of $877. It’d be analogous to trying the powerful 8-cyl gas car cheaply for a month before paying $877 extra for it vs the cheaper 6-cyl.
You pays your dollar, you takes your chance...............
and they wonder why some people cheer when executives from Blackrock or United Healthcare are shot.
The Babylon Bee should do a story on this.
Volkswagen:
Pay a monthly fee or your trunk will no longer open.
Pay a monthly fee or you won’t be able to make right turns.
Come on, Bee. Get on this.
🐝
Well l love heated seats and steering wheel
Good grief!
European style customer service.
The Japanese would never think to do such a thing.
the id.3 doesn’t even have an engine does it? I thought they were full electric
I have my doubts unless the "official" measurement method never tops out either car's power usage or the lower powered car's milage is artificially reduced. If you use more power, your battery life goes down.
We are deep into the new economic model. Owning nothing, being happy.
Serfs were not property, but they were tied to the land, which was owned by a lord. The serf had to work the land for the lord because there was no other option.
Slaves were property. They did the work they were told to do, they could be sold to distant places, families could be broken up.
Free people work where they want to, earn their own money, and can purchase “stuff” which is their own property.
Now you can’t really own much of anything. I’m not sure I see the benefit of working and striving. Technofeudalism. It’s no fun being a serf or a wage slave.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.