Last month, it was revealed that Mercedes-Benz was rolling out remote performance upgrades for its EQ electric vehicle lineup, potentially delivering an additional 80 horsepower for an annual fee of $1,200. Now, Mercedes-Benz has disclosed that these upgrades are up for grabs by North American owners at a reduced rate compared to the previous offer, and with alternative terms.
Mercedes made an announcement on Wednesday indicating that the EQE sedan and SUV, as well as the EQS sedan and SUV, could receive the enhancement for a yearly cost of $600 or $900, respectively. This represents a decrease from the original $1,200 per year price tag. In addition, owners have the option to pay $60 to $90 per month for the EQE or EQS, or opt for a lifetime upgrade at a cost of $1,950 or $2,950.
A representative from Mercedes clarified that although the acceleration enhancement was initially mentioned in November, it was not yet available for purchase at that time. The company was questioned about a potential error in the initial availability and pricing last month, and further updates will be provided as more information is received.
Subscription charges for pre-installed hardware have sparked debate amongst certain automakers, such as BMW, which announced plans to introduce in-car subscriptions for features like heated seats. While these upgrades are accessible in various markets, BMW clarified that for buyers in North America, features already integrated into the vehicle upon purchase would remain functional for its entire lifespan. Owners interested in exploring additional features like heated seats or enhanced camera functionalities could do so through subscriptions. In the case of Mercedes, it appears that the electric motors have the capability for increased output from the factory but necessitate unlocking to activate these functions. Mercedes assured that boosting the motor performance would not adversely affect driving range.
While in-car subscriptions remain a relatively uncommon occurrence, it is a developing trend anticipated to expand across more vehicles, especially within the realm of electric cars. Automakers are unwilling to forfeit revenue typically generated from post-sales services on traditional combustion engine vehicles and may seek to recoup these losses through subscriptions or alternative strategies. Let’s hope they refrain from overwhelming us with incessant microtransactions.
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