BMW did this earlier
Markus Welz, head of Hyundai's Connected Mobility division, said the company is considering launching paid subscriptions for some in-car features, such as heated seats.
«We are considering this as an option to add more personalization to the car», — he stated. This discussion comes as the auto industry moves toward more subscription-based and connected services.
Hyundai recently announced its new European Connected Mobility division. This division combines elements of Mocean (vehicle subscription) and Bluelink (connected services). Welz emphasized: “For years, we've been worried about how we're going to sell more cars. Today we worry: „What if all we do is sell cars?“ The new division aims to meet rising consumer expectations for mobility and vehicle ownership» .
Bluelink now allows owners to remotely control certain vehicle functions such as pre-adjusting cabin temperature, door locking and satellite navigation.
Hyundai plans to restructure its Bluelink system into a tiered subscription service to offer different levels of connectivity and features. The Lite package will be free for the first ten years and will include core services such as driving maps and online capabilities. The Plus package costs €2.99 per month and offers access to all remote services. At the highest level, Pro will be available for €9.99 per month and will provide advanced data-driven services, including in-vehicle payments.
BMW previously introduced similar subscription models for some vehicle features, such as heated seats and steering wheel, and high beam assist. However, this model has faced widespread criticism.