Automakers are shifting toward offering subscription-based feature upgrades like Tesla, with Mercedes now selling a boost feature for a yearly charge.
Mercedes-Benz announced a $1,200 per year upgrade for what it calls an “acceleration increase,” cutting up to a second off of its EQ vehicles’ acceleration times, according to a report from The Drive.
The improved 0-60mph times are below for the following Mercedes EVs, as noted by the publication:
The upgrade is available to buyers of the Mercedes EQ lineup, though crucially, many of the features no longer include tangible updates — as pricey add-ons did before the era of the electric vehicle (EV).
Instead, auto buyers now purchase vehicles with certain features locked or unlocked, which the automaker can enable or disable remotely.
Mercedes Launches EV Production in Alabama with GLS SUV https://t.co/FV3c4QEFJw
— TeslaNorth.com (@RealTeslaNorth) August 27, 2022
The result looks a lot like Tesla’s acceleration boost and track mode upgrades, or its subscription-based Full Self-Driving (FSD) beta upgrade, which costs $15,000 per year in the U.S.
Another set of examples are BMW’s upgrades for heated seats ($18 per month), or its upgrade purchases for adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams and even range capabilities.
We’ve long seen in-app purchase upgrades for gaming and apps, and now they’re moving to our connected electric vehicles, it seems. Time to open your wallet, folks.
