Technology reporter
Getty imagesThe German car -making giant Volkswagen (VW) has introduced a subscription to the UK customers who want to increase the power of some of their electric cars.
Those who buy a qualified car in their ID.3 range can choose to pay extra if they want to unlock the entire power of the engine inside the vehicle.
VW states that the cost of “alternative power upgrade” will be £ 16.50 per month or £ 165 annually – or people can choose to pay £ 649 for lifetime membership.
The firm said it was “offering customers’ choice” with the facility.
The Auto Express, who first reported the story, said that a lifetime membership would be for the car instead of the person – meaning that it would remain on the upgrade car if it was sold.
A VW spokesperson told the BBC that he believed that giving people the option to buy more power for their car “is nothing new”.
“Historically many petrol and diesel vehicles have been introduced with engines of the same size, but with the possibility of choosing one with more power,” he said.
He said that the power upgrade would allow customers to opt for “sportier” driving experience at any time, “rather than reducing the start with high initial procurement price”.
Such proposals have proved controversial for some customers in the past, who are angry, they may have to pay to reach the facilities – which in some cases – already present inside the car that they are themselves.
‘nothing new’
Other vehicle manufacturers like BMW have introduced uniform membership-based add-on in the past, Such as for hot seats and steering wheels,
And Mercedes introduced an online membership service in America in 2022 Customers allowed to pay their electric cars to speed up,
According to a survey by S&P GlobalSome customers may be divided into levels paid by the cost of in-car membership, or by basic functions for features such as connectivity.
This said that the number of respondents who said that they would pay for connected services, fell by 86% in 2024, to 68% in 2025.
It is normally estimated in 2024 with market research firm Junipar Research that the global membership economy will reach about $ 1TN (£ 740BN) in 2028 with market research firm Junipar Research.
