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
      951·
      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
          183·
          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.