Automakers are moving towards software subscription futures.

[bobcat]

Tesla has announced that after Feb 14th, it's self-driving features will only be available by a monthly subscription. Other automakers (GM, Ford, Chrysler, Ram,) are also heading that way. Hyundai will as well, but a bit more cautiously. This doesn't just apply to the self-driving feature. There are quite a large array of upgrades and perks that will be subscription based.

Essentially, you may own the car, but not the software that it employs, so if they decide to start charging for map updates and navigation, or connectivity, or parking assist, or vehicle health monitoring, then you are at their mercy if your car uses their software.

Expect to see this strategy expand in the coming years, as the auto industry sees this as a new source of revenue. If you own the car, but they own the brain it uses, it puts you in a difficult position.

 

[IrishEyes]

Right now cars that have hit 10 years old are having their Pair-to-Phone feature discontinued.
I know it happened to me. I have to buy a whole new unit and replace it or pay for the convenience.
I looked on the dealer site and their ad says "Connectivity for Phone Pairing on US! for 10 years.
They didn't say that before.

 

[Paco Dennis]

You have done your homework.

sounds like you’re describing a significant shift in the automotive world—the rise of the Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV). You’re spot on: we are moving away from the era where you "buy a machine" and into one where you "license a computer on wheels."

The announcement from Tesla regarding the February 14, 2026 cutoff for one-time FSD (Full Self-Driving) purchases is a major milestone in this trend. It essentially forces a recurring revenue model that Wall Street loves but many owners find frustrating.

The Current State of "Feature-as-a-Service"​

While Tesla is the most visible, other manufacturers are indeed following suit, though their strategies vary:

• Tesla: Starting mid-February 2026, FSD will transition to a subscription-only model (likely staying around $99/month). This aligns with a goal in Elon Musk’s recent compensation package to hit 10 million active FSD subscriptions.
• Stellantis (Ram, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep): They have projected nearly $20 billion in annual revenue from software services by 2030. They are already bundling "Connect" packages that charge for advanced navigation, remote starts, and vehicle health alerts after initial trial periods.
• GM & Ford: Both have moved their most advanced hands-free driving systems (Super Cruise and BlueCruise) to subscription models. GM even faced pushback for making certain OnStar safety features mandatory "add-ons" in some markets.
• Hyundai/Kia: They are moving toward "Features on Demand" (FoD). While they have been more cautious due to consumer backlash (like the infamous BMW heated seats controversy), they are investing $18 trillion in software by 2030 to ensure every vehicle they sell is capable of receiving paid over-the-air updates.

What This Means for You as an Owner​

You hit on the most critical point: ownership vs. access. This shift creates several "hidden" challenges for the average driver:

Challenge	Impact on the Owner
Resale Value	If a feature (like self-driving or performance boosts) is tied to your account and not the car, the car might be worth less when you sell it.
Long-term Cost	A $20/month subscription for 10 years costs $2,400—often more than the original cost of the hardware itself.
Function Depletion	If the manufacturer goes bankrupt or stops supporting an older "brain," the car could lose critical features overnight.
Privacy & Control	To manage these subscriptions, cars must stay "always connected," meaning your driving data is constantly being harvested.

The "Backlash" Factor​

It’s worth noting that this isn't a guaranteed victory for car companies. Legislators are starting to take notice. For instance, in late 2025, New York lawmakers moved to pass bills (like S5708) that would prohibit manufacturers from charging subscriptions for hardware that is already physically installed in the car, such as heated seats or basic safety sensors.

We are currently in a "tug-of-war" phase where automakers are testing how much "subscription fatigue" the public can handle before they stop buying the brand entirely.

 

[bobcat]

I was surprised by finding out that many of the things that were free may be slowly going away if you don't continuously pay for them.
Among them may be remote start, remote lock and unlock, vehicle status monitoring, vehicle finder, and even the send-to-navigation feature where you find a location on your phone and send it to the navigation screen on your vehicle.
Since newer cars are becoming so tech heavy and dependent on a central computer, it is unnerving to realize we will always be tethered to whatever they decide to do with that vital part of the car. As Harrison Ford would say: "I got a bad feeling about this".

 

[Paco Dennis]

It has more to say on this topic :

It is a classic "I’ve got a bad feeling about this" moment for car owners. You’ve identified the exact features that are quietly moving from "standard hardware" to "temporary software privileges."

As of early 2026, the industry has shifted from selling you a product to selling you a service contract. Here is the breakdown of the specific "convenience" features you mentioned and how they are being handled right now:

The "Convenience Tax" Checklist​

Most major manufacturers have now tiered these features into monthly or yearly packages. Here is what the landscape looks like for 2026 models:

• Remote Start / Lock & Unlock: This is the most common "pay-to-play" feature.
  
  • Toyota & Subaru: Usually offer a 1-to-3-year trial, then charge roughly $8–$15/month.
  • Kia/Hyundai: Their "Plus" and "Ultimate" plans (required for remote climate and locking) are currently running between $149 and $199 per year.
• Send-to-Navigation: This is often tucked away in the highest tier (like Kia’s "Ultimate" plan). If you stop paying, the ability to "push" an address from your phone to your car’s dashboard simply disappears, even though the GPS hardware is still sitting in your dash.
• Vehicle Health & Status Monitoring: While some basics (like mileage) might remain free for 5 years, detailed diagnostic alerts and "Monthly Health Reports" are increasingly being moved behind a $5.99/month "Safety/Care" wall.
• Vehicle Finder: This is now almost universally a subscription feature. If you lose your car in a massive parking lot and haven't paid your monthly "Connect" fee, the app will often refuse to show you the GPS location.

---

The "Brain" Paradox​

The "unnerving" part you mentioned—being tethered to the central computer—is becoming a reality through Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs).

1. The "Kill Switch" Potential: Because these cars require a constant "handshake" with the manufacturer's servers to verify your subscription, the manufacturer has a persistent digital tether to your car.
2. Hardware vs. Software: We are seeing cars ship with heated seat elements and remote start modules already installed at the factory, but software "gates" prevent you from using them unless you pay. New York and a few other states actually tried to ban this in late 2025 (Bill S5708), but the legislation has faced heavy pushback from auto lobbyists.
3. Data as the Real Currency: By forcing you into these subscriptions, automakers ensure you stay logged into their apps. This allows them to collect "driving behavior" data, which many then sell to insurance companies—creating a second revenue stream on top of your subscription fee.

Is there a "Resistance"?​

If you're looking to avoid the tether, the options are shrinking but still exist:

• The "Analog" Workaround: Many cars (like certain Toyotas) still allow remote start via a specific sequence on the physical key fob (usually pressing "Lock" three times and holding), which doesn't require the app or a subscription.
• Apple CarPlay / Android Auto: These remain the best "defense" for owners. By using your phone for navigation and music, you bypass the automaker's paid "infotainment" packages. This is why GM famously decided to remove Apple CarPlay from their new EVs—they want to force you into their own paid ecosystem.

It’s a strange time when "luxury" used to mean having more features, and now it increasingly means having fewer bills.

 

[oldman]

My wife pays a subscription for something, maybe it’s Wi Fi in the car or Sirius and something else in her Mercedes.