[lambdasquirrel]

One wonders why the automaker's can't just charge a reasonable monthly fee for 1. tracking where you left your car parked, and 2. remote-locking your car. I would vastly prefer that to playing games with our data, or trying all these gimmicks like charging for extra acceleration.

[gnicholas]

When my iPhone disconnects from my car (even one without CarPlay), it remembers the car's location.

[adrr]

I just leave an Airtag in my cars. Always know where they are.

[gnicholas]

Also useful for tracking your car in case it's stolen.

[PlunderBunny]

Provided you have paired the phone with the car's bluetooth (I think).

[wrs]

It’s not an either-or thing. If I understand our new Chrysler van correctly, they charge a monthly fee (which doesn’t even seem particularly reasonable) for (1) and (2) and they’re collecting a bunch of data to sell as well. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to find an ad on the screen for some new subscription climate control feature or something.

[GordonS]

Hasn't BMW being doing exactly that for several years now? I'm sure their strangely named "Connected Services" offered this for £10/m or so, around 10 years back.

[PeterStuer]

They already know where you parked your car. The fee would be for sharing that info with you. But then the sheeple would wake up to what BMW tracks, so it's a classic espionage dilemma.