A modern car is a gadget on four wheels, which is no longer controlled by pedals and mechanical drives, but by electronics. About a dozen ECUs, the same electric throttle and steering wheel. It sounds a bit dangerous, because you never know how all this “stuffing” will behave tomorrow, but people like it. Technological, modern, comfortable and at least the grass won’t grow. However, the “technologization” under the arm with a thirst for stabilization and increasing the constant income of manufacturers continued, and the world knew the incredible: BMW offered to pay for heated seats every year. And if I don’t extend, “will we turn off the gas”?
However, these were only flowers. After playing with heated seats, the Germans took the next step. The country’s main automaker, Mercedes-Benz, has introduced a “speed” subscription for its US customers (it officially no longer has Russian ones). Cars with such a service activated accelerate up to hundreds of 0.9 seconds faster than the “economy”. The option costs “only” $ 1,200 or 73,000 rubles per year. That is, now, in addition to maintenance and insurance, you also have to pay for the ride and pleasure of the “fifth point”. Curious, agree.
For all this “new world order” there are only two questions: what will actually happen if the subscription for the second year is not paid? Will the dealer call and remind you that the invoice has already been sent? Will he turn to bailiffs to recuperate for heating or dynamics? Unlikely. On the contrary, all these processes are controlled remotely. This means that the manufacturer can access the car’s controls remotely, allowing you to make it faster or slower.
It would be extremely interesting to see the whole list of “opportunities”: to find out whether the German office can turn off the engine of an officially purchased car if, for example, a loan is overdue? Or lock the doors and deactivate the transmission if a letter is sent to the representative office that the owner is guilty of some crime? Speak out against transgender people on social media – you can’t drive a Mercedes anymore, you dirty little man! This is only a privilege for “good” people.
Jokes aside, the presence of such equipment in a car can be extremely inconvenient for its owner. The client must in any case be aware of all possibilities and properties of the machine. I would like clarification on such “blocking” technologies, but there is no one to ask – “Mercedes” left Russia and slammed the door loudly. However, the Stuttgarters are unlikely to be the last to get involved in the subscription story – others will emerge. So it is very likely that sooner or later this will hit the Russians en masse.
A modern car is a gadget on four wheels, which is no longer controlled by pedals and mechanical drives, but by electronics. About a dozen ECUs, the same electric throttle and steering wheel. It sounds a bit dangerous, because you never know how all this “stuffing” will behave tomorrow, but people like it. Technological, modern, comfortable and at least the grass won’t grow. However, the “technologization” under the arm with a thirst for stabilization and increasing the constant income of manufacturers continued, and the world knew the incredible: BMW offered to pay for heated seats every year. And if I don’t extend, “will we turn off the gas”?
However, these were only flowers. After playing with heated seats, the Germans took the next step. The country’s main automaker, Mercedes-Benz, has introduced a “speed” subscription for its US customers (it officially no longer has Russian ones). Cars with such a service activated accelerate up to hundreds of 0.9 seconds faster than the “economy”. The option costs “only” $ 1,200 or 73,000 rubles per year. That is, now, in addition to maintenance and insurance, you also have to pay for the ride and pleasure of the “fifth point”. Curious, agree.
For all this “new world order” there are only two questions: what will actually happen if the subscription for the second year is not paid? Will the dealer call and remind you that the invoice has already been sent? Will he turn to bailiffs to recuperate for heating or dynamics? Unlikely. On the contrary, all these processes are controlled remotely. This means that the manufacturer can access the car’s controls remotely, allowing you to make it faster or slower.
It would be extremely interesting to see the whole list of “opportunities”: to find out whether the German office can turn off the engine of an officially purchased car if, for example, a loan is overdue? Or lock the doors and deactivate the transmission if a letter is sent to the representative office that the owner is guilty of some crime? Speak out against transgender people on social media – you can’t drive a Mercedes anymore, you dirty little man! This is only a privilege for “good” people.
Jokes aside, the presence of such equipment in a car can be extremely inconvenient for its owner. The client must in any case be aware of all possibilities and properties of the machine. I would like clarification on such “blocking” technologies, but there is no one to ask – “Mercedes” left Russia and slammed the door loudly. However, the Stuttgarters are unlikely to be the last to get involved in the subscription story – others will emerge. So it is very likely that sooner or later this will hit the Russians en masse.
Source: Avto Vzglyad
Donald Salinas is an experienced automobile journalist and writer for Div Bracket. He brings his readers the latest news and developments from the world of automobiles, offering a unique and knowledgeable perspective on the latest trends and innovations in the automotive industry.