Netflix-esque gear doesn't seem fair to some politicians: You shouldn't pay more for something factory-installed

A few months ago, BMW took  subscriptions  to the next level in the automotive world by charging  17 euros per month to use the heated seats . The idea is simple: if you want to use certain equipment for a certain period of time, you will have to pay for it.

But the Bavarian brand  is not the only one  to bet on this recipe. More and more manufacturers are in favor of  pay-per-use , from  Volkswagen  to  General Motors , however, there are already those who are trying to stop this practice because they consider it abusive for the customer.

Against payment to "unlock" equipment

Subscription equipment offered by BMW

BMW customers have the option of equipping their car and paying for certain options that they can always use, or choosing a subscription model that allows them to pay for this equipment only when they go to use it. In this way, it is possible to pay a  monthly flat rate to use the heated seats  or the heated steering wheel only during the winter months.

The problem is that if they opt for the subscription they  pay twice , when buying the car and each time they subscribe to the use of certain equipment. Because? Very simple, because your car is already fitted with this standard element, but its use is disabled until you return to the checkout.

The idea is not new, the brand has already mentioned it  in 2020  , but it is now that it has been realized. In Europe  , the BMW heated steering wheel is available from 9 euros per month, while the use of front seat heating is priced at  17 euros per month  . You can also pay a monthly fee to use Driving Assistant Plus or High Beam Assistant.

As you might expect, many users are not convinced by this formula, but neither are some politicians, notably those in New Jersey, in the United States, who have declared war on manufacturers to ban in-vehicle subscriptions for  the pre-installed hardware  .

One of New Jersey's state senators, Paul D. Moriarty, introduced a bill  in the chamber  to end the practice. Its intention is to prevent a manufacturer from charging a monthly fee for the use of equipment  already fitted  in the car at the factory, such as heated seats, a heated steering wheel, hands-free starting or certain driving assistance systems. conduct.

That is, all the elements that do not entail any additional expense for the manufacturer after the sale of the car. The bill excludes services that incur a cost to the brand  over time .

Either by relying on third-party providers, such as a vehicle's Wi-Fi connection, satellite radio, or  emergency call services  that use help desks to communicate with emergencies or the roadside assistance.

If this law is enforced, penalties for violations are  $10,000  the first time and "no more than $20,000 for any subsequent violations."

One of the reasons mentioned by Paul D. Moriarty, promoter of this bill, is that "in this period of rising consumer prices, it is important to guard against commercial practices which serve above all to  increase corporate profits  ”.

The bill only opposes "  recurring payment  , which can be weekly, monthly, or yearly," so it doesn't go against what builders have been doing for decades: charging extra at the time of the purchase of the car in exchange for the possibility for the customer to use specific equipment, yes, forever.