[fiddlerwoaroof]

I’ve seen this a couple times and, whatever Tesla’s plans might be, the current Tesla lineup is not a “rent extraction” scheme: the only subscription is the option to pay for cell connectivity for media and a couple other things.

If anything, it’s traditional manufacturers like BMW ( https://www.businessinsider.com/bmw-subscription-model-for-f... ) that are pushing for this, not Tesla.

[judge2020]

With Tesla, the base Model 3 SR+ doesn't have rear heated seats enabled, but they're still in the car and you can purchase them after-the-fact for $300. Whether or not that's acceptable is up to you, but it's not like you paid for them up front, they just made it possible for you to pay for them later. It saves them from having to make another sku variation (which is expensive in manufacturing and logistics) and makes it so that adding it after-the-fact doesn't cost $500 in labor.

[InvertedRhodium]

This is also true of many manufacturers - a lot of the 'extras' that each trim level gets are just configurable settings in the ECU.

Personally I picked up a VCDS adapter for my VW GTI and was able to turn on things like a startup gauge sweep, automatic window closing when it detects rain, configure the puddle lights to turn on when the windows fold and heaps more.

[alphabettsy]

Everything you’ve listed is a preference that has nothing to do with trim level, not really the same as whether or not you have heated seats.

When you don’t pay for heated seats in a VW it doesn’t come with heated seats at all. Maybe the Tesla way is better? But the comparison isn’t one to one.

[tshaddox]

Yep, they wouldn’t include the heated seat hardware unless it was cheaper than having two types of seats.

[fiddlerwoaroof]

Interesting, I have a 2020 LR AWD, and I didn't realize/remember it came with rear heated seats. TIL.

[hardwaresofton]

You don't think this is a reaction to what Tesla is doing? I see this as manufacturers trying to get in on the wave that Tesla is starting but doing it awkwardly since they don't have a "acceleration" or "full self driving" mode to push.

The blurb at the top of the Tesla upgrades page (https://www.tesla.com/support/upgrades) feels like it would be a shot across the bow for any car company in the same premium car market that Tesla operates in. I really don't think this monetization model was considered heavily before Tesla existed. Info-tainment sure, but the rest of the car I don't think so.

[fiddlerwoaroof]

Tesla's upgrades are definitely new: between OTA firmware updates and a slow body refresh cycle, there is much less difference between a 2020 Model 3 and a 2021 Model 3 than between spaced Honda Accords. I don't really see, though, how this is fundamentally different from the way BMW, Mercedes, Porsche nickel-and-dime you for various packages at purchase time: if anything, it's better because it lets Tesla release features developed in 2021 to people who bought a car three years ago. But, as long as this doesn't turn into a subscription model. I don't really see the analogy to SaaS.

[hardwaresofton]

True, it's definitely not different in that aspect -- nickel and diming is certainly not new.

> But, as long as this doesn't turn into a subscription model. I don't really see the analogy to SaaS.

As long as it doesn't! It's also fully possible that the sum-total of changes that this future Tesla is pioneering will be a consumer positive, will be interesting to see how it turns out.