On April 28th, Mercedes-Benz announced its latest pricing for its subscription service called “Acceleration Increase,” which was launched last year in North America. This service can improve the acceleration performance of its electric vehicles EQE and EQS through software upgrades without any physical modifications to the vehicles.
The price for this subscription service starts at $60 per month or $600 per year, which is a significant decrease from the previous price of $1200 per year. This price only applies to the four-wheel-drive EQE 350 sedan and SUV, while the higher-end four-wheel-drive EQS 450 sedan and SUV require a fee of $90 per month ($900 per year) to enjoy this service.
Mercedes-Benz also offers a one-time payment option where users can permanently unlock the acceleration enhancement feature for $1950 for EQE and $2950 for EQS. For users who choose to subscribe monthly, if they have the vehicle for more than three years, the cost they pay will be equivalent to the one-time unlock price. It seems that Mercedes-Benz’s pricing model is designed for users who short-term lease vehicles or only want to temporarily showcase performance.
According to Mercedes-Benz, this feature can increase the acceleration and motor output of electric vehicles by 20% to 24%. The total output of EQE increases from 215 kW to 260 kW, and the 0-60 mph time is shortened from 6 seconds to 5.1 seconds (sedan) or 5.2 seconds (SUV). EQS increases from 265 kW to 330 kW, and the 0-60 mph time is shortened from 5.3 seconds to 4.5 seconds (sedan) or 4.9 seconds (SUV).
The practice of adding subscription services to vehicles by automakers is becoming an alarming trend. Tesla has taken the lead in this regard, offering a $3250 unlocking option to allow some older Model S models to use the full battery capacity. Recently, some automakers have set seat heating as a software lock and subscription service, such as Tesla, BMW, and Smart. EQE and EQS are not the only electric vehicles that limit performance artificially and offer paid unlock options. Polestar also offers a one-time payment option of $1195, and Tesla has similar performance unlocking functions.
This software payment model has caused dissatisfaction among some consumers who believe it is an unfair restriction on electric vehicles. Mercedes-Benz claims that this model can give users more choices and flexibility and can reduce the starting price of some models. Currently, this subscription service is only available in the United States and Europe, and it is unclear whether it will be launched in other markets.
