Volkswagen is charging UK owners of the ID.3 electric vehicle an extra monthly fee to unlock the full potential of their car, according to reports. The company lists the Pro and Pro S models with lesser horsepower than what they’re capable of, and customers can pay $22 (£16.50) a month or a one-time lifetime fee of $880 (£649) to activate the upgrade.
The move has drawn comparisons to BMW’s previous practice of locking certain features behind monthly subscription fees, which ultimately led to its hardware subscription service being scrapped after a year due to customer backlash. Volkswagen’s approach appears to be similar, with owners only able to access the full 228 horsepower if they pay for the power upgrade. The company offers a free one-month trial period for those unsure about the extra power.
Source: https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/volkswagen-is-making-uk-owners-pay-extra-to-unlock-id3-evs-full-potential-120011898.html