BMW to Charge $80/Year Subscription Fee to Use Apple CarPlay

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Posted January 17, 2018 at 1:48am by Shalom Levytam

BMW is planning to charge an $80/year subscription fee to use Apple CarPlay in its vehicles, reports The Verge. Currently, the company charges a one time fee of $300 for the option.

At the 2018 Detroit Auto Show, Don Smith, technology product manager for BMW North America, told The Verge that the company will launch the subscription-based service next year. "This allows the customer to switch devices," said Smith. "A lot of people buy [CarPlay] and think it’s okay, but sometimes they stop using it or switch to Android."

The plan will be free for the first year of ownership on a new BMW.

Currently, BMW doesn't offer Android Auto on any vehicles but Google Assistant is going to come to new BMW models in late 2018. The company has also announced that Amazon Alexa support will be enabled later this year for more than just basic vehicle functions such as locks and lights.

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Fred Ziffle - January 18, 2018 at 4:55pm

Got it free in our new car. Tried it a few times, turned it back off. Pretty useless feature.

GeneP - January 18, 2018 at 1:07am

this is ridiculous. Time to buy CarPlay supported audio separately. Damn you BMW!

Smart guy - January 18, 2018 at 12:27am

Wow, what a cash grab. It costs them nothing monthly to have this in your car. Their arguement of the consumer option of switching between car play and android auto is stupid because BMW could include both right from the start.

Mike - January 17, 2018 at 9:58pm

VW is charging in EU already for activating CarPlay 290€! But not monthly...yet

drigomarki - January 17, 2018 at 6:04pm

obviously they are not doing that great as company. Oh, well, let them bankrupt.

The brick - January 17, 2018 at 12:52pm

Lol seriously??? I love BMW, I had one once and this fee is just another way to drop money into the drain with this brand. I own a Kia Sorento 2018 and I have both Android Auto and Carplay and it wasn't even an option, it's just built in!

Sly - January 17, 2018 at 12:18pm

I expect BMW following some apple advices, apple does like subscription model (would be nice to know if BM will share % with apple). Wouln’t be surpise if others manufacturer follows this in near future.

Brownest - January 17, 2018 at 5:18am

They are doing it because they CAN. So long as people support their decision with their pocketbooks BMW will continue to conduct this highway robbery. If/When their customers look elsewhere when car shopping BMW will get the message.

A-non-e-moose - January 17, 2018 at 4:58am

And you have to pay an estimated $5000 on maintenance per year? Lmao. Never found the appeal to BMWs and this sure as hell didn’t increase their appeal for me.

Tech Jedi - January 17, 2018 at 2:12am

BMW is lame. I hope they lose car sales over this money hungry move. CarPlay is free in almost every car including Mercedes-Benz, all GM vehicles, Ford, KIA, and many more. Shame shame BMW.

eth0 - January 18, 2018 at 7:54am

Mitsubishi have Apple Carplay and Android Auto as standard as well, NO FEE :-)

Mars - January 17, 2018 at 2:01am

Unless it is wireless CarPlay , more money that standard car !

gamerscul9870 - January 17, 2018 at 1:59am

It's not enou that BMWs are more expensive choices to buy, but even more money just to use a built in system that came with the car?...I'm just going to stick to my best SUV with a free CarPlay.

gamerscul9870 - January 17, 2018 at 2:00am

enough*. Autocorrect is sometimes replacing words with chunks of them.

Mars - January 17, 2018 at 1:57am

I have it for free in my 2018 Kia and in other USA brand car .