Official Press Release Statement by BMW NA:
Statement of Clarification Regarding BMW Functions on Demand in the U.S. Market.
In response to recent media reports, BMW of North America would like to clarify how BMW’s Functions on Demand strategy will be implemented in the U.S. market.
Woodcliff Lake, NJ – July 14, 2022… As premium vehicle purchasers, BMW customers in the USA demand a high level of equipment in their vehicles. Options like heated seats are ordered on over 90% of the BMWs sold in the USA. If a vehicle is initially ordered with heated seats, that option will remain fully operational for the life of the vehicle. BMW of North America does not expect factory option purchase levels to change significantly going forward.
BMW Functions on Demand on the other hand is designed to offer premium features through software upload that use data and sensors from factory option hardware already built into BMW vehicles. As an example, some BMW models equipped with certain specific options from the factory can currently add the first two Functions on Demand features available in the US – namely a dash cam function called BMW Drive Recorder and BMW Remote Engine Start function—through a software download in a customer’s vehicle. The BMW Drive Recorder feature uses the cameras needed for advanced driver assist systems for dash cam functionality. This gives customers the possibility of adding new software based functionality and a degree of flexibility in that they will be able to test, and then decide whether or not to purchase a vehicle feature that was not initially available at the time of the original vehicle purchase.
With BMW Functions on Demand, customers will be able to explore new software-based features on a short-term basis by purchasing a trial, or buying that feature outright for a period of time or for the life of the vehicle. It is important to note that BMW Functions on Demand is intended primarily as a digital aftersales solution and will not affect options that were ordered at the time of the vehicle purchase.
Please note that BMW Functions on Demand and the possibility to test or purchase select options after the point of purchase is part of a global aftersales strategy that BMW has introduced in various markets around the world, including on a small-scale basis in the U.S. The features that are available in this digital aftersales online store will vary from market-to-market. Customers can browse available features in their local ConnectedDrive store online.
BMW USA has now made
official statements on the controversial subscriptions for certain Function on Demand features (i.e.
heated seat subscription in Korea).
Just to be 100% clear: Drivers in the US do NOT have to pay a subscription for heated seats or for any other options ordered at time of purchase.
BMW Functions on Demand is a program that DOES offer premium options, like BMW Drive Recorder and Remote Engine Start, via software updates. Based on vehicle compatibility, customers can purchase a trial of these features, then decide if they want to purchase a feature outright.
BMW Function on Demand features will vary from market-to-market. You can browse available features for the US in the ConnectedDrive store at MyBMW.com or on the My BMW App.
For the people in the back: If a BMW is ordered with heated seats, this will not go away, nor do we have any plans to introduce a monthly charge for this option.
Statements via BMWUSA Twitter:
https://twitter.com/BMWUSA/status/15...QvQZ9uMi2eFYKw
