Mercedes-Benz EQS rear-wheel steering requires subscription: Difference between revisions
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|Description=Mercedes-Benz EQS vehicles have restricted rear-wheel steering unless customers unlock the full range of motion with a subscription. | |Description=Mercedes-Benz EQS vehicles have restricted rear-wheel steering unless customers unlock the full range of motion with a subscription. | ||
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In Germany, '''[[Mercedes Benz | In Germany, '''[[Mercedes-Benz]]''' '''EQS''' vehicles are equipped with rear wheels that can steer up to 10 degrees. However, customers who do not sign up for a subscription will only have a 4.5 degree range of rear wheel steering. The feature is not available for purchase outright, and enabling it costs €489 (about $571) a year or around €1,169 ($1,376) to activate the service for up to three years upfront.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Teague |first=Chris |date=26 Jul 2021 |title=Mercedes-Benz EQS Rear-Wheel Steer Requires Subscription |url=https://www.jdpower.com/automotive-news/mercedes-benz-eqs-rear-wheel-steer-requires-subscription |access-date=21 Aug 2025 |website=jdpower.com |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20211220003757/https://www.jdpower.com/automotive-news/mercedes-benz-eqs-rear-wheel-steer-requires-subscription |archive-date=20 Dec 2021}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Tsui |first=Chris |date=26 Jul 2021 |title=Full Rear-Wheel Steering on Mercedes EQS Will Be $575 Annual Subscription in Germany: Report |url=https://www.thedrive.com/tech/41678/full-rear-wheel-steering-on-mercedes-eqs-will-be-575-annual-subscription-in-germany-report |access-date=21 Aug 2025 |website=The Drive |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251112132720/https://www.thedrive.com/tech/41678/full-rear-wheel-steering-on-mercedes-eqs-will-be-575-annual-subscription-in-germany-report |archive-date=12 Nov 2025}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Padeanu |first=Adrian |date=23 Jul 2021 |title=Mercedes Charging $575 Per Year In Germany For 10-Degree Rear Steering On EQS |url=https://www.motor1.com/news/521960/mercedes-eqs-rear-wheel-steering/ |access-date=21 Aug 2025 |website=motor1.com |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250823104301/https://www.motor1.com/news/521960/mercedes-eqs-rear-wheel-steering/ |archive-date=23 Aug 2025}}</ref> | ||
== Background == | ==Background== | ||
Rear-wheel steering isn't a new technology as it has been around for decades, with the Nissan R31 Skyline pioneering the system back in 1985.<ref name=":2" /> | Rear-wheel steering isn't a new technology as it has been around for decades, with the Nissan R31 Skyline pioneering the system back in 1985.<ref name=":2" /> But by putting hardware capabilities behind a paywall through software-locks, Mercedes-Benz is following the trend of modern car manufacturers. The market practices have shifted 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 by business incentives such as: | ||
*Recurring revenue through [[Subscription service|subscription services]] | |||
*[[Volkswagen car-location data-exposure incident|Collecting drivers’ data]] that is then sold to insurance companies | |||
==How it works== | |||
== How it works == | |||
Every EQS model is equipped with rear-wheel steering capable of a 10-degree range, but customers who do not pay for a subscription have this feature limited to 4.5 degrees. The process works like this: | Every EQS model is equipped with rear-wheel steering capable of a 10-degree range, but customers who do not pay for a subscription have this feature limited to 4.5 degrees. The process works like this: | ||
* Full range is not available as a factory option<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> | *Full range is not available as a factory option<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> | ||
* It is only available as a yearly subscription (€489 a year or €1,169 for 3 years)<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> | *It is only available as a yearly subscription (€489 a year or €1,169 for 3 years)<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> | ||
* It cannot be bought outright for a one time charge<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> | *It cannot be bought outright for a one time charge<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> | ||
This means customers are paying for a hardware in their car that can never truly be theirs. | This means customers are paying for a hardware in their car that can never truly be theirs. | ||
== 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]] | ||
* [[ | *[[Activation]] | ||
* [[Audi Basic HVAC "Sync" Function Paywalled]] | *[[Audi Basic HVAC "Sync" Function Paywalled]] | ||
== References == | ==References== | ||
<references /> | <references /> | ||
[[Category:Incidents]] | [[Category:Incidents]] | ||
[[Category:Mercedes Benz]] | [[Category:Mercedes Benz]] | ||
[[Category:Mercedes Benz EQS]] | [[Category:Mercedes Benz EQS]] | ||
Latest revision as of 18:34, 31 March 2026
In Germany, Mercedes-Benz EQS vehicles are equipped with rear wheels that can steer up to 10 degrees. However, customers who do not sign up for a subscription will only have a 4.5 degree range of rear wheel steering. The feature is not available for purchase outright, and enabling it costs €489 (about $571) a year or around €1,169 ($1,376) to activate the service for up to three years upfront.[1][2][3]
Background
[edit | edit source]Rear-wheel steering isn't a new technology as it has been around for decades, with the Nissan R31 Skyline pioneering the system back in 1985.[3] But by putting hardware capabilities behind a paywall through software-locks, Mercedes-Benz is following the trend of modern car manufacturers. The market practices have shifted 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 by business incentives such as:
- Recurring revenue through subscription services
- Collecting drivers’ data that is then sold to insurance companies
How it works
[edit | edit source]Every EQS model is equipped with rear-wheel steering capable of a 10-degree range, but customers who do not pay for a subscription have this feature limited to 4.5 degrees. The process works like this:
- Full range is not available as a factory option[1][2][3]
- It is only available as a yearly subscription (€489 a year or €1,169 for 3 years)[1][2][3]
- It cannot be bought outright for a one time charge[1][2][3]
This means customers are paying for a hardware in their car that can never truly be theirs.
See also
[edit | edit source]- BMW feature lockout scandal
- Mazda remote-start subscription
- BMW's heated seat subscription
- Activation
- Audi Basic HVAC "Sync" Function Paywalled
References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Teague, Chris (26 Jul 2021). "Mercedes-Benz EQS Rear-Wheel Steer Requires Subscription". jdpower.com. Archived from the original on 20 Dec 2021. Retrieved 21 Aug 2025.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Tsui, Chris (26 Jul 2021). "Full Rear-Wheel Steering on Mercedes EQS Will Be $575 Annual Subscription in Germany: Report". The Drive. Archived from the original on 12 Nov 2025. Retrieved 21 Aug 2025.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Padeanu, Adrian (23 Jul 2021). "Mercedes Charging $575 Per Year In Germany For 10-Degree Rear Steering On EQS". motor1.com. Archived from the original on 23 Aug 2025. Retrieved 21 Aug 2025.