Most of us are used to buying a car and getting every advertised feature immediately. But, in the new world of car ownership, automakers can market a feature they plan to add later.
Case in point — the Tesla Cybertruck does not currently have locking differentials. This is a feature off-road enthusiasts desire to help a vehicle get unstuck on the trail. But, if you buy a Cybertruck today, you will get the technology eventually.
At least, that’s the experience one owner had.
Change Coming Someday as a Download
Owner VoyageATX recently posted a YouTube video where he took his Cybertruck off-roading. Like most experienced off-roaders, he stopped as soon as he left the paved surface to air down his tires and lock the differentials. But, on trying to lock them through the truck’s touchscreen, he got a “coming soon” message.
The truck later struggled to climb a slight incline while watching a Toyota 4Runner and a Subaru Crosstrek make it up.
“After reviewing the footage and talking with a bunch of off-roading gurus,” says the host, “it’s pretty clear that we could have made it up this incline if we’d had the diff lockers enabled in the software.”
The story is unusual but indicative of an emerging reality in car buying — now that cars are technological devices as much as mechanical tools, automakers can add new features on the fly. But they can also sell a vehicle without a feature, promising they’ll add it later.
Owning a Software-Centered Car Will Be Weird
Some automakers have even experimented with charging monthly fees for car features they can disable and enable with software. The idea has encountered resistance, with dealer groups opposing it and some lawmakers pushing to ban it.
However, acceptance may be growing, as surveys show drivers willing to accept subscription fees in some circumstances.
To be clear, Tesla has not suggested that locking differentials will require a subscription fee. But some owners have taken possession of a truck that doesn’t have them … yet.
That’s a new reality car shoppers should be aware of. Strangely, you may soon need to verify that every advertised feature is enabled on your next car before bringing it home.
