Very few consumers want subscriptions in their cars, survey shows
- Thread starter JournalBot
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Of the two headlines, I like this one best:
When I read it, I thought to myself 'or on the apps on my phone.'
When I read it, I thought to myself 'or on the apps on my phone.'
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If there's an ongoing cost to the feature (such as streaming music or a call center like OnStar), then I'm open to a subscription.
If there is not (for example: iPhone integration), I am not.
And keeping the car OS up-to-date should never be charged for. It's a basic safety feature.
If there is not (for example: iPhone integration), I am not.
And keeping the car OS up-to-date should never be charged for. It's a basic safety feature.
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I mean, no shit. Most already have a monthly subscription… it’s called a car loan.
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I already have my cell phone in the car. That's great for internet access, streaming, and navigation.
Just connect to my phone folks and call it a day.
I'm not going to reproduce a cell phone plan on the car ...
Just connect to my phone folks and call it a day.
I'm not going to reproduce a cell phone plan on the car ...
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It's one thing talking about (say) heated seats or sunroof automation by subscription. (I don't want that via subscription either, but at least that's something only the car can provide). But for much of the stuff on that list, I already have a device with an internet connection and the ability to do that stuff. Can I just plug it into the car screen and sound system? Without subscription.
edit: clarification
edit: clarification
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Yes! This whole modern trend of making everything SaaS is terrible. No, I'm not going to pay you $1.99/mth for your calculator app.
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They needed a survey to understand what their subscription numbers were already telling them. They don't get it yet. More surveys incoming.
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Maybe it’s just being GenX, but I don’t see the need for everything to have internet, not even my car. And that’s with me owning a smartphone!
I’d also like to think if I have to charge my hypothetical electric car, it’s when I’m at a service centre (like an ONRoute along the 401) so I can go do other things like eat and use a bathroom, instead of having to use my car internet to play games. (Hey, how come the car can’t log into the service centre wi-fi? Or can it? Would they allow it?)
I’d also like to think if I have to charge my hypothetical electric car, it’s when I’m at a service centre (like an ONRoute along the 401) so I can go do other things like eat and use a bathroom, instead of having to use my car internet to play games. (Hey, how come the car can’t log into the service centre wi-fi? Or can it? Would they allow it?)
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$10-15 per month for remote controlling some aspects of my car. Hard pass.
I love the remote start feature (I had it on cars via my fob long before internet connected was a thing) and I've used the travel log and other things on my Volvo - but purely nice to have. $30/year (or $2-3 per month) - yes I'll happily pay that (just did a few months ago for my wife's Mercedes). I'm ok paying that much because it's a reasonable fee to support the car company's expenses to maintain and offer the service (and probably make a reasonable profit in volume). But if it's more than that it's just outrageous - I'll walk out to the car to start it... thanks.
The hotspot was nice when I had 3 kids in the car (they could use my data allowance vs. using theirs before the days of relatively cheap unlimited) - but not sure it's worth all that much given the ubiquity of cell coverage in most areas. I guess it makes it possible to use a laptop or non-cell tablet in the car... but I'm driving so I don't care - and my wife can tether to her phone just as easily.
Edit to add: I do miss the "included in the purchase price" remote start from the fob though. At some level - one should have to make sure they can see (or are otherwise in line of sight) of their car before remote starting it.
I love the remote start feature (I had it on cars via my fob long before internet connected was a thing) and I've used the travel log and other things on my Volvo - but purely nice to have. $30/year (or $2-3 per month) - yes I'll happily pay that (just did a few months ago for my wife's Mercedes). I'm ok paying that much because it's a reasonable fee to support the car company's expenses to maintain and offer the service (and probably make a reasonable profit in volume). But if it's more than that it's just outrageous - I'll walk out to the car to start it... thanks.
The hotspot was nice when I had 3 kids in the car (they could use my data allowance vs. using theirs before the days of relatively cheap unlimited) - but not sure it's worth all that much given the ubiquity of cell coverage in most areas. I guess it makes it possible to use a laptop or non-cell tablet in the car... but I'm driving so I don't care - and my wife can tether to her phone just as easily.
Edit to add: I do miss the "included in the purchase price" remote start from the fob though. At some level - one should have to make sure they can see (or are otherwise in line of sight) of their car before remote starting it.
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What consumers want in this case doesn't matter. Will it raise profits for shareholders? Once this becomes universal, consumers won't have a choice.
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Oh and 'sharing of driving data behaviour with insurance company' -- that was a subscription but the insurer was going to pay me. And I still decided against it.
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If I’m paying $5 a month for heated seats, that better exclude BOM for the product from the price of the vehicle.
Of course I’m still not going to use that subscription service, I’m going to tear up the seat up the seat and enable it myself. I don’t give a shit if it’s controlled through a tablet or not.
Of course I’m still not going to use that subscription service, I’m going to tear up the seat up the seat and enable it myself. I don’t give a shit if it’s controlled through a tablet or not.
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A survey to help them survey! Genius (and very meta to boot)!
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I love self-checkout. I can be in and out and on my way with minimal human interaction.
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I see options in this list that I would answer with "Absolutely not!" because of privacy, security or safety reasons, and a car having such options would already be a risk to me.
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No shit, Sherlock.
Everything is becoming a subscription, and it's fucked. Yay, capitalism?
Everything is becoming a subscription, and it's fucked. Yay, capitalism?
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Almost every “feature” on this list is something my phone does already. Automakers have to get real and deal with the fact that CarPlay and android auto exist. Consumers are not going to be willing to pay for the same redundant services over and over again. The only service that I could see that I would be willing to pay for is some type of self driving, that’s something that has to be provided by the vehicle manufacture and it’s clearly something with an ongoing service component that isn’t fake .
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People hate self checkout? I don't know, I kinda like not having to wait in line or make awkward conversation with someone who is tired of being treated like shit by entitled assholes all day and just wants to go take a lunch break. I especially appreciate it at stores where I might pop in for just a couple of specific items and they only ever have one single cashier working no matter how busy it gets (fucking Lowes).
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guarantee no one in manufacturing, product development engineers, support or security- like subscriptions either.
it’s the kind of idea an “industry” executive who doesn’t actually like cars, doesn’t drive, and doesn’t care about automotive details love.
it’s the kind of idea an “industry” executive who doesn’t actually like cars, doesn’t drive, and doesn’t care about automotive details love.
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I really wish the graph was designed in a way that is less misleading. Having a full bar only be equal to 30% of all surveyed consumers is intentionally making it seem like there is more interest when there is not.
Edit: just for fun:
Edit: just for fun:
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That $10-$15 a month also doesn't include the cell service you're required to have in your car for the remote functions to work (at least for me it's that way). It would end up being $30. $20 for cell service and $10 for connected services. So yeah, hard pass. I can still use my key fob to remote start anyway, I just can't use the app on the phone.
They included a year of free services when I got the car. And the only time I ever used the app was if I forgot to bring my keys with me and was going to get something out of the car.
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When they say in car wifi for $15/mo does that mean that it's tethered to your phone's data or that the car has it's own data plan? Because frankly $15 per month just for wifi is ludicrous when you could just use your phone as a hotspot.
I don't see this revenue model being remotely viable until we're talking about cars that are fully autonomous. Then you can have a legit model for consuming content safely in car which is a not unreasonable avenue for subscription content. Subscription models for physical features just isn't ever going to get traction.
I don't see this revenue model being remotely viable until we're talking about cars that are fully autonomous. Then you can have a legit model for consuming content safely in car which is a not unreasonable avenue for subscription content. Subscription models for physical features just isn't ever going to get traction.
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Both of our cars have the hotspot feature and I kinda never really understood it. I mean I get having a hotspot if you have kids in the back that want to stream a movie or something (maybe not in the Mustang though) and my wife has checked on some work stuff from her laptop while riding shotgun on a trip, but I already pay for that through my cell phone. My phone is already with me, already paid for, already plugged in. I can just tap a toggle in the quick settings and the hotspot is ready. I don't see the value the vehicle hotspot adds.
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Your car gets its own plan. I don't think it's usually a lot of data though. I want to say 15GB or something.
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doesn't matter whether they like cars or not, drive or not. they like those bonuses ...
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I'm gonna be honest - once I started using the "scan as you go" feature at my grocery store I love it. And it has nothing to do with saving the planet by using my own bags and everything to do with being done with shopping when my basket is full. I no longer endure waiting in line or unload, scan, bag, reload process.
I put my bags in the cart (I bought the fancy ones that are supported by the cart). Scan things as I go before dropping them in one of the bags. Get the self checkout. Scan the hand-held scanner. Tap my Apple Watch to pay via Apple Pay. I think waiting for the receipt to print is the longest part of the process now. Walk out to my car. My wife was skeptical at first - but now she agrees.
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Which manufacturer is making you pay for the cell service on top of their bullshit service? That's insane.
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From pretty much the age of 22 to 34 self checkout was always the better option for me because I was buying small loads of groceries. Faster line, quick checkout, out the door. Now that I need to buy family groceries because I'm old I always use the checkout lanes because there just isn't enough room at the self checkouts to squeeze everything in so you need to take a bag off and get someone to stop it telling you to put stuff back.
Even then I still bag the groceries myself. The ideal is I get in line behind someone with a small load so I can get everything on the conveyor and be ready to bag by the time they're done.
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I don't like separating bags to put my stuff in, but I'm cool with everything else. (But when my cart is loaded, it's nice to have someone else do all that).
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The fact that OnStar is pretty much dead should tell them all they need to know, but the sheer audacity to charge me to use hardware that's there in a car I bought is insane. Just for suggesting it, I will avoid your company like the plague. Looking at you BMW. Or rather, not looking at you.
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Starts with internet, heated seats, then paying extra for AC in the summer. Err discounts for AC in the winter. Deals, who doesn't like those.
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I've passively observed the existence of the scan as you go but it's never occurred to me that's how it works. You just.....scan as you go?! You might have changed my life here sir or madam.
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