BMW North America Is Charging Subscription Fees For Apple CarPlay
BMW in the US is for some bizarre reason charging customers an annual subscription to Apple CarPlay, despite it being standard and free in all sorts of cheap Hyundais, Skodas and the latest Volkswagen Jetta.
CarPlay, an Apple proprietary programme, joins Android Auto as free software on dozens of different 2018 model-year cars across the world. It’s pretty normal to expect it these days… but no one seems to have told BMW USA, which has announced that it’s to cost $80 per year from next year.
Since 2017 it has been charging new BMW buyers a $300 one-off fee for the service, but it aims to make it both cheaper for two-to-three-year leases and more profitable over the life of the car, as used BMW buyers will have to pay the fee as well if they want to use CarPlay.
Talking to The Verge, BMW North America’s technology product manager Don Smith said:
“This allows the customer to switch devices,” [Smith] said. “A lot of people buy [CarPlay] and think it’s okay, but sometimes they stop using it or switch to Android.”
The Verge went on to say:
“Smith said the new plan would be free for the first year of ownership on a new BMW. After that, owners would be asked to pay $80 per year to keep the service. Over the course of a three or four-year lease, it would still work out to less money than the option is now, he said.”
That doesn’t really alter the fact that it should be free on a car of any BMW’s price, in a market where even superminis throw it in with no separate charge.
BMW doesn’t support Android Auto, which could indicate a commercial tie-in with Apple that may trace back to this new charge. We’ll keep our eyes peeled and update this piece if we get further news.
Source: Jalopnik
Comments
Does it come with in house advertisement?
Ofcourse, like every free app on your phone, you have to pay to remove them. 😛
80 bucks a year? So if my dad buys a BMW and suddely cancels my Xbox live gold I’ll know why!
A Xbox Live Gold 12 months subscription doesn’t cost $80 lmao, it was $60 CAD until last year and since last year it’s $70 CAD
More like apple carpay amirite?
America…
now has 2 things that should basically be free to the public but cost extra for “competition”
Wouldn’t surprise me if Apple were involved in this too…we all know what tbeyre like for mugging people.
Inspired by EA?
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As for cost, we selected initial values based upon data from the Open Beta and other adjustments made to milestone rewards before launch. Among other things, we’re looking at average per-player credit earn rates on a daily basis, and we’ll be making constant adjustments to ensure that players have challenges that are compelling, rewarding, and of course attainable via gameplay.
We appreciate the candid feedback, and the passion the community has put forth around the current topics here on Reddit, our forums and across numerous social media outlets.
Our team will continue to make changes and monitor community feedback and update everyone as soon and as often as we can.
If anything, this will give people even more of an incentive to switch to Android, at least if they plan to keep the car for a long time.
Yes and no. The worst part about it is that BMW doesn’t support Android Auto, so if you want any of those features, you’re either stuck with Apple or you have to buy a car from literally any other brand.
I feel like I would care if it wasn’t Apple
That’s why you get Android: you’re screwed, but at least it’s free
Yup, my Android auto on my Pixel 2XL refuse to work with Sensus in my Volvo. I have given up already.
Another reason to not get an Apple device haha
Android Auto is not availble in BMW.
I,ve used ios and switched to android…..and now,.. if they gave me free upgrade every year as new handset…i wouldnt take it.
For god,s sake the s5 gallaxy has 16 megapixel screen capability…and tle latest apple is only half that. So each to their own
Android master race
Strangely, buying a 2018 BMW isn’t a particularly likely event for me