Ford to put features behind a pay wall😡

[csv8]

“Ford will soon require owners of its new and near-new vehicles to start paying a subscription fee to access certain features.

From January 2, 2025, the connected built-in navigation service included in a majority of models sold by the brand since mid-2020 will switch to a subscription model.

Ford will still include a one-year trial of the connected built-in navigation service – which provides the ability to access live traffic, updated map and weather data – from the warranty start date on models equipped with the system, however after 12 months owners will have to start paying to access these features

With the new subscription model in place, Ford will charge customers $15 per month or an annual fee of $110 to access these features, however the vehicle’s satellite navigation will still function.“

[csv8]

Originally Posted by csv8

“Ford will soon require owners of its new and near-new vehicles to start paying a subscription fee to access certain features.

From January 2, 2025, the connected built-in navigation service included in a majority of models sold by the brand since mid-2020 will switch to a subscription model.

Ford will still include a one-year trial of the connected built-in navigation service – which provides the ability to access live traffic, updated map and weather data – from the warranty start date on models equipped with the system, however after 12 months owners will have to start paying to access these features

With the new subscription model in place, Ford will charge customers $15 per month or an annual fee of $110 to access these features, however the vehicle’s satellite navigation will still function.“

https://www.carexpert.com.au/car-new...wall-from-2025
Added link to article.

[whynot]

On the flip side, one assumes that without a subscription being paid, then Ford isn't uploading your vehicle movements to the AI Overlord in the cloud. (It needs location and speed to generate traffic congestion reports.)

I can do without the weather data. Already there are five different apps on my phone fighting each other to tell me the sun is shining when, in fact, I am in the middle of a tropical downpour.

Still, this thin-edge-of-the-wedge behaviour is a worrying sign.

[Sprintey]

Pressing the traction control button for 3 seconds on the FG is still free...

cue Mel Gibson screaming 'Freedom!'

[GTLEGEND]

Like everything else now in life, remember when you bought a computer and things such as Outlook you had to buy once off in the form of a CD/DVD etc and it was yours, now you have to pay a subscription, so you pay for something whether you use it or not that month etc.

Pathetic way to rip us off as if it's a few $$$ they think we won't notice but if everything goes that way, then that little becomes a lot..

[Big_Daz]

$110 a year on nav that I dont use? No thanks... Apple Car Play and Google Maps/Waze is my go to anyway.. Im sure most people are the same..

[Wretched]

Just say no.

[roKWiz]

Was wondering why my steering wouldn't work !

[kevino]

Geez
Apple Car Play dont charge for map updates
Goodbye Ford.

[Franco Cozzo]

Boom - external GPS

How's all the dirt in the interior, sees more dirt roads and off road access tracks than the average Ranger.

Back in an era where Ford made fun cars and didn't charge subscription fees for functionality that was traditionally included in the purchase price.

Automotive manufacturing is clown world these days, pretending to be IT companies with less scrutiny, oversight, and selling all your information to the highest bidder.

Ford Dozen - pay for 12, receive 11.

[Adamz Ghia]

Originally Posted by Big_Daz

$110 a year on nav that I dont use? No thanks... Apple Car Play and Google Maps/Waze is my go to anyway.. Im sure most people are the same..

CarPlay and Android Auto will end up behind a pay wall. I’m pretty sure BMW already tried it.

[EBSXR6]

Ford still reaming their customers.

[simon varley]

Originally Posted by EBSXR6

Ford still reaming their customers.

until nobody pays. Let's see how long it lasts, if it even gets off the ground.

[simon varley]

given that it's only a month away, there's nothing on ford.com.au at all. Is it even true?

[DJM83]

Havnt had sat nav for years.

Put destination into google on me phone thats hooked up to BT.
Put phone in console.
Drive to said destination.
Or take our Hyundai!

[simon varley]

Originally Posted by DJM83

Havnt had sat nav for years.

yeah, but it's a lot less hassle having it built in. Not to mention the kids on Ls and Ps can use it legally

[CyberWasp]

In the modern era of Waze, Google/Apple Maps and various Weather Apps this is like trying to charge people for Air, ie it is not going to happen.

How would their paid service be any better than the established free ones.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by simon varley

given that it's only a month away, there's nothing on ford.com.au at all. Is it even true?

My wife got an email from ford this week regarding some features of the Ford pass app needing a subscription to continue access to them.

No details though.

[swamp]

hi
Toyota pay pay pay for xtra media functions , mapping and good looking wheels which were removed only in Australia . 2000$ option

I bought some 18mth old Prado wheels 300$ and a Navman 150$
Toyota Tax still walking funny

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by CyberWasp

In the modern era of Waze, Google/Apple Maps and various Weather Apps this is like trying to charge people for Air, ie it is not going to happen.

How would their paid service be any better than the established free ones.

I agree, i hate car manufacturers doing their own mapping and in car entertainment solutions, had dramas with the Hyundai maps in the old mans i30N, doesn't recognise a lot of the new estates and roads in Melbourne suburbia, way better to hook up the phone and use google maps for their mapping solution.

Android Auto/Apple Car Play is the way to go, they should just include those and if someone is a thousand years old and doesn't have a smart phone, throw in a $200 Motorola android phone when they buy the car, so all the functionality works.

I think its just an extra revenue stream, interesting as they're heading down this territory, and automotive manufacturers have been absolutely useless at securing their electrical networks in their cars, if the IT crowd can come up with a way to unlock all this extra functionality for free.

[Trendseeker]

Originally Posted by simon varley

given that it's only a month away, there's nothing on ford.com.au at all. Is it even true?

Yes, it is true. I received an email from Ford this week with a link to a 24-page document containing the terms and conditions. I’ve read it. The only thing they’re proposing to charge for at the moment is the live traffic and maps. You have to opt in if you want it. Otherwise, you can continue to use the embedded maps for navigation.

Here’s an extract from clause 3:

Connected Services
Two types of Connected Services exist.

• Standard Services available to FordPass users with ‘fully activated vehicles’. These include remote command and control features, and vehicle status and health alerts. For details, refer to the FordPass User Guide.

• Subscription Services available for your Connected Vehicle in exchange for the payment by you of recurring subscription fees (Fees). These include connected built-in navigation services for your Connected Vehicle.

The Connected Services available to you from time to time will depend on your vehicle model and its level of specification. Details of the applicable subscription fees for Subscription Services are available via your Ford Account.

[Citroënbender]

A nice, clear, summary - thanks.

How do you feel about paying for these extras, yourself?

[simon varley]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

How do you feel about paying for these extras, yourself?

I bought the transit, knowing it was Connected, and FREE. I love the updating of the maps, but ****ed if I'm going to pay to keep it going...

[Trendseeker]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

A nice, clear, summary - thanks.

How do you feel about paying for these extras, yourself?

I’m not keen on paying for extras. I’ll compare the cost of upgrading to the latest maps once in a while, if they still offer that option, to the annual cost of live maps. I rarely use navigation but occasionally look at the map if I’m in an area I’m not familiar with and caught in a traffic jam; then I’ll check for side streets and a way around the snarl.

I rarely use FordPass. I turned it on out of curiosity and tested the remote start once and have never used it since. I occasionally check the tyre pressures and fuel level, and I’ve never needed to use it to find my car.

[Syndrome]

Bad business decision

[vixf6]

Originally Posted by Trendseeker

I’m not keen on paying for extras. I’ll compare the cost of upgrading to the latest maps once in a while, if they still offer that option, to the annual cost of live maps. I rarely use navigation but occasionally look at the map if I’m in an area I’m not familiar with and caught in a traffic jam; then I’ll check for side streets and a way around the snarl.

I rarely use FordPass. I turned it on out of curiosity and tested the remote start once and have never used it since. I occasionally check the tyre pressures and fuel level, and I’ve never needed to use it to find my car.

Remote start is great use it every day allows seats to heat/a/c to cool/heat car, engine to idle down from start up revs, can jump in and go immediately, wish it would turn off stupid stop start/fatigue crap

[russellw]

Back when FoA first offered it, the Suna TMS they adopted for the FG series in 2008 was supposed to be a subscription model after the first 12 months but in the end they didn't bother with the subscription. It was a bit limited for coverage back then with only Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Adelaide, and Perth but these days they claim 90% 'traffic' coverage but that's still only the 3 Eastern seaboard highways plus a few major regionals like Geelong, Bendigo, Wollongong, Sunshine Coast and Darwin.

Frankly, there's not a lot of value subscribing outside of those areas. I've kept my Sensis mapping up to date as it gets updated at each dealer service and we've got a Garmin in the van that comes with lifetime updates and I can't think of any other 'feature' I'd be willing to pay for.

It will, however, become the norm as the manufacturers keep building more stuff into base models to meet consumer demand and match the Chinese in a repeat of what happened here in the very late 60's when the Japanese started selling cars here with things like carpet and radios as standard when they were (quite expensive) options from the big 3 excep0t in their premium (read more profitable) models.

[CyberWasp]

It is a pity you can't hack the vehicle status and health feature to send messages back about the status of the driver and their thoughts of the scheme.

[Crazy Dazz]

I think it's a great idea.

Getting extra money from stupid people, makes things cheaper for the rest of us.

[Ben73]

Ford don’t have the brand cachet to get away with this. Some other brands have customers that will pay this without thinking.

Waze, google maps and everything else on your phone is not only better than this, they’re also free.