Hey Mercedes! Charging Extra To Unlock The Full Power Of Your EVs Is Illegal In Europe

Dec. 01, 2022 7:34 AM ET bySebastian Cenizo Technology /19 Comments

Perhaps the same should be the case here in America too.

According toTop Gear Netherlands, it appears to be illegal to charge a subscription fee to unlock the full capability of an electric car in Europe. This is interesting, as theMercedes EQSand other EVs from the brand with the three-pointed star have been in the spotlight lately after the German automaker revealed that it would be charging customers an extra $1,200 per year for anAcceleration Increase subscription.

Basically, Mercedes wants to charge an extra $100 per month to unlock more power and acceleration from its electric vehicles, effectively charging customers for capabilities that their cars' hardware was shipped from the factory with.

According to the Dutch publication, Mercedes will not offer subscriptions to add extra horsepower to European EVs for the time being, with a spokesperson saying that the future implementation of the strategy depends on "legal matters."

It's not clear what the issue holding Mercedes back is, asTG Netherlandsreports thatBMW has no problems offering a subscription servicefor heated seats in the region. Still, it appears that the fact that the Mercedes subscription would make a car more powerful may be a stumbling block.

Whatever the reason for this subscription not yet being rolled out abroad, Americans are not happy with the idea of being charged to use hardware that their cars were sold with, and New Jersey wants in-car subscriptionsto be made illegal.

销售功能的想法demand isnot as villainous as it is often made out to be, but consumers remain cynical. In many cases, one can buy a feature, like heated seats, outright, and the system will work even when the car is sold.

There are also some financial benefits to only paying for a warm butt in the coldest months of winter, particularly if you don't keep your car for too many years. However, many are still frustrated at the idea of paying for something that the vehicle is equipped with. There's also the matter of waste - what benefit is there in buying a car that has the hardware for a feature you may never use?

Unfortunately, the practice doesnot appear to be going anywhere, as Kia, Dodge, Porsche, Volkswagen, and others begin to roll out their own takes on making more money from a customer after the sale of a car. Unless subscription services are outlawed, they will only become more prevalent.