Automakers have spent the last few years imagining a future where every car comes fully loaded — heated seats, advanced driver assistance, even extra horsepower — and drivers unlock features through monthly payments.
Investors loved the idea. Drivers didn’t. Now, New York lawmakers are stepping in.
A new bill, which has cleared both chambers of the state legislature, would make it illegal for automakers and dealers to charge subscription fees for features that rely on hardware already installed in the car at purchase. That means no more paywalls for heated seats or different “tiers” of your factory sound system. Violations could trigger fines of up to $250 per sale.
