Mercedes-Benz EQS rear-wheel steering requires subscription

In Germany, Mercedes-Benz EQS vehicles are equipped with rear wheels that can steer up to 10 degrees. However, customers who do not sign up for a subscription will only have a 4.5 degree range of rear wheel steering. The feature is not available for purchase outright, and enabling it costs €489 (about $571) a year or around €1,169 ($1,376) to activate the service for up to three years upfront.^[1][2][3]

Rear-wheel steering isn't a new technology as it has been around for decades, with the Nissan R31 Skyline pioneering the system back in 1985.^[3] But by putting hardware capabilities behind a paywall through software-locks, Mercedes-Benz is following the trend of modern car manufacturers. The market practices have shifted from how cars have worked since their invention, as they're no longer independent devices, requiring constant connection to the manufacturer's servers. This change isn't driven by necessity, but rather by business incentives such as:

• Recurring revenue through subscription services
• Collecting drivers' data that is then sold to insurance companies

Every EQS model is equipped with rear-wheel steering capable of a 10-degree range, but customers who do not pay for a subscription have this feature limited to 4.5 degrees. The process works like this:

• Full range is not available as a factory option^[1][2][3]
• It is only available as a yearly subscription (€489 a year or €1,169 for 3 years)^[1][2][3]
• It cannot be bought outright for a one time charge^[1][2][3]

This means customers are paying for a hardware in their car that can never truly be theirs.

• BMW feature lockout scandal
• Mazda remote-start subscription
• BMW's heated seat subscription
• Activation
• Audi basic HVAC "Sync" function paywalled