Volkswagen locks horsepower behind paid subscription: Difference between revisions
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In the U.K., '''[[Volkswagen]]''' equips the '''ID.3''' with a 228bhp engine, then requires customers to pay a subscription to unlock the full performance of the vehicle they've already purchased.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Alaniz |first=Anthony |date=17 Aug 2025 |title=Volkswagen Is Locking Horsepower Behind a Paywall |url=https://www.motor1.com/news/769158/volkswagen-horsepower-subscription-service-paywall/ |access-date=19 Aug 2025 |website=motor1.com}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Jervis |first=Tom |date=14 Aug 2025 |title=Forget Netflix, Volkswagen locks horsepower behind paid subscription |url=https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/volkswagen/367566/forget-netflix-volkswagen-locks-horsepower-behind-paid-subscription |access-date=19 Aug 2025 |website=Auto Express}}</ref> | {{IncidentCargo | ||
|Company=Volkswagen | |||
|StartDate=2025 | |||
|EndDate= | |||
|Status=Active | |||
|ProductLine= | |||
|Product=ID.3 | |||
|ArticleType=Product | |||
|Type=Firmware Lockout, Ownership, Rent-Seeking | |||
|Description=The ID.3 ships with a 228 bhp engine but can only utilize up to 201 bhp of power unless the user pays a one-time fee or buys a subscription. | |||
}} | |||
In the U.K., '''[[Volkswagen]]''' equips the '''ID.3''' with a 228bhp engine, then requires customers to pay a subscription to unlock the full performance of the vehicle they've already purchased.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Alaniz |first=Anthony |date=17 Aug 2025 |title=Volkswagen Is Locking Horsepower Behind a Paywall |url=https://www.motor1.com/news/769158/volkswagen-horsepower-subscription-service-paywall/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250830203418/https://www.motor1.com/news/769158/volkswagen-horsepower-subscription-service-paywall/ |archive-date=30 Aug 2025|access-date=19 Aug 2025 |website=motor1.com}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Jervis |first=Tom |date=14 Aug 2025 |title=Forget Netflix, Volkswagen locks horsepower behind paid subscription |url=https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/volkswagen/367566/forget-netflix-volkswagen-locks-horsepower-behind-paid-subscription |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260105033944/https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/volkswagen/367566/forget-netflix-volkswagen-locks-horsepower-behind-paid-subscription |archive-date=5 Jan 2026|access-date=19 Aug 2025 |website=Auto Express}}</ref> | |||
== Background == | ==Background== | ||
Volkswagen follows the trend of modern car manufacturers: selling vehicles with the hardware capabilities to enable certain functionalities, then controlling access to said features by software-locking them behind a paywall. This marks a shift from how cars have worked since their invention, as they're no longer independent devices, requiring constant connection to the manufacturer's servers. This change isn't driven by necessity but rather represents a new business model prioritizing: | Volkswagen follows the trend of modern car manufacturers: selling vehicles with the hardware capabilities to enable certain functionalities, then controlling access to said features by software-locking them behind a [[Pay-walling|paywall]]. This marks a shift from how cars have worked since their invention, as they're no longer independent devices, [[Forced cloud|requiring constant connection]] to the manufacturer's servers. This change isn't driven by necessity but rather represents a new business model prioritizing: | ||
* Recurring revenue through [[Subscription service|subscription services]] | *Recurring revenue through [[Subscription service|subscription services]] | ||
* [[Volkswagen car-location data-exposure incident|Collecting drivers’ data]] that is then sold to insurance companies | *[[Volkswagen car-location data-exposure incident|Collecting drivers’ data]] that is then sold to insurance companies | ||
== How it works == | ==How it works== | ||
Every exemplar of the ID.3 model is equipped with a 228bhp engine, but customers who don’t pay extra to enable full power get their engine capped at 201bhp.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> The process works like this: | Every exemplar of the ID.3 model is equipped with a 228bhp engine, but customers who don’t pay extra to enable full power get their engine capped at 201bhp.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> The process works like this: | ||
* Full power is available as a factory option | *Full power is available as a factory option | ||
* It can be added to certain cars (even second hand ones) that weren't optioned that way originally<ref name=":1" /> | *It can be added to certain cars (even second hand ones) that weren't optioned that way originally<ref name=":1" /> | ||
* It is available as a monthly or yearly subscription (£16.50 per month or £165 per year)<ref name=":0" /> | *It is available as a monthly or yearly subscription (£16.50 per month or £165 per year)<ref name=":0" /> | ||
* It can be bought outright for a one time charge of £649<ref name=":0" /> | *It can be bought outright for a one time charge of £649<ref name=":0" /> | ||
This means every customer purchases a car with a fully powered engine, but can't use it without paying an additional fee. Since the manufacturing cost is already included in the vehicle price, customers essentially pay twice for the same engine. | This means every customer purchases a car with a fully powered engine, but can't use it without paying an additional fee. Since the manufacturing cost is already included in the vehicle price, customers essentially pay twice for the same engine. | ||
== See also == | ==See also== | ||
* [[BMW feature lockout scandal]] | *[[BMW feature lockout scandal]] | ||
* [[Mazda remote-start subscription]] | *[[Mazda remote-start subscription]] | ||
* [[BMW's heated seat subscription | *[[BMW's heated seat subscription]] | ||
== References == | ==References== | ||
<references /> | <references /> | ||
[[Category:Incidents]] | [[Category:Incidents]] | ||
[[Category:Volkswagen]] | [[Category:Volkswagen]] | ||
[[Category:Volkswagen ID.3]] | [[Category:Volkswagen ID.3]] | ||
[[Category:Service Siphoning]] | |||
Latest revision as of 19:44, 2 April 2026
In the U.K., Volkswagen equips the ID.3 with a 228bhp engine, then requires customers to pay a subscription to unlock the full performance of the vehicle they've already purchased.[1][2]
Background
[edit | edit source]Volkswagen follows the trend of modern car manufacturers: selling vehicles with the hardware capabilities to enable certain functionalities, then controlling access to said features by software-locking them behind a paywall. This marks a shift from how cars have worked since their invention, as they're no longer independent devices, requiring constant connection to the manufacturer's servers. This change isn't driven by necessity but rather represents a new business model prioritizing:
- Recurring revenue through subscription services
- Collecting drivers’ data that is then sold to insurance companies
How it works
[edit | edit source]Every exemplar of the ID.3 model is equipped with a 228bhp engine, but customers who don’t pay extra to enable full power get their engine capped at 201bhp.[1][2] The process works like this:
- Full power is available as a factory option
- It can be added to certain cars (even second hand ones) that weren't optioned that way originally[2]
- It is available as a monthly or yearly subscription (£16.50 per month or £165 per year)[1]
- It can be bought outright for a one time charge of £649[1]
This means every customer purchases a car with a fully powered engine, but can't use it without paying an additional fee. Since the manufacturing cost is already included in the vehicle price, customers essentially pay twice for the same engine.
See also
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Alaniz, Anthony (17 Aug 2025). "Volkswagen Is Locking Horsepower Behind a Paywall". motor1.com. Archived from the original on 30 Aug 2025. Retrieved 19 Aug 2025.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Jervis, Tom (14 Aug 2025). "Forget Netflix, Volkswagen locks horsepower behind paid subscription". Auto Express. Archived from the original on 5 Jan 2026. Retrieved 19 Aug 2025.