The New Audi A3 Is Amess With In-Car Subscriptions [Update]
www.motor1.com
The 2025 Audi A3 looks sharper and comes with more tech, but you will have to pay a subscription for some basic in-car features.

So far there’s subscriptions for cruise control, adaptive beams, various navigation options, apple/google integration and my favorite, dual-zone climate.

  • grue@lemmy.worldEnglish
    162·
    9 months ago

    This shit should be illegal. When you buy a device, you own all the hardware and have every right to use it to the full extent of its physical capabilities. Audi has no right to hold your property hostage!

    • state_electrician@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
      6·
      9 months ago

      How else am I, a humble car artisan (cartisan, if you’re feeling naughty), supposed to continue to generate obscene levels of wealth for my shareholders if I can’t continue to milk customers?

      • grue@lemmy.worldEnglish
        941·
        9 months ago

        Things that legitimately rely on an outside service are different. You understand how those are different, right?

        Cruise control doesn’t require Audi to maintain a fucking server for you.

        • CrowAirbrush@lemmy.worldEnglish
          131·
          9 months ago

          I have a different look on this, but it’s just the way i see it: if a manufacturer puts a function in your car that requires them to run a server then that server is on them, they put the function in there not me.

          I buy the car, it’s mine in all it’s functionality. If they don’t want that, then don’t put it in.

        • Docus@lemmy.worldEnglish
          814·
          9 months ago

          I am ok with a charge for things that require the manufacturer to run a server. But only if that charge is related to the actual cost , and that cost is unavoidable. Regarding that last point: my Garmin satnav lets me use my own mobile data to get live traffic information. Car makers don’t give you that option.

          • DeathbringerThoctar@lemmy.worldEnglish
            173·
            9 months ago

            Car makers don’t give you that option.

            Except they do if you have Android Auto. Literally none of that has any bearing whatsoever on subscriptions for cruise control though.

            • Docus@lemmy.worldEnglish
              41·
              9 months ago

              According to the article, apple car play and android auto also require a subscription. So no, they don’t give you the choice.

              • DeathbringerThoctar@lemmy.worldEnglish
                22·
                9 months ago

                Subscription to a cell carrier maybe? I’ve used Android Auto in particular a bunch. It connects to my phone and uses Google maps, which is non subscription. Admittedly it’s been a bit, I suppose Google could have crippled it since I last used it, but I have my doubts. My mother uses it regularly and I guarantee she’d be throwing a fit if she needed to pay to do so.

                • Docus@lemmy.worldEnglish
                  4·
                  9 months ago

                  Nope. Read the first line of the article. Apple CarPlay won’t work unless you pay Audi a subscription fee. I’m not surprised, I had an A3 a few years ago and that already had subscriptions built in. But they came with a 3 year license and Audi UK would extend that for a year at a time, free of charge as they had not worked out how to charge for it. They have worked it out now.

      • BastingChemina@slrpnk.netEnglish
        4·
        9 months ago

        My car has a 4g cell connection that allow me to find its position, check the battery level, lock it, unlock it, call for emergency, play online music, check for update, set up the interior temperature or seat heating and use it as a WiFi hotpsot in the car.

        I’m would have prefered no connection but I’m not paying a dime for it.

    • IsThisAnAI@lemmy.worldEnglish
      462·
      9 months ago

      Nope.

      If you are leasing subscriptions it makes sense. Or for certain features.

      I couldn’t care less as long as the option to buy remains. I’d almost certainly end up subbing though on my next lease.