Are Annual Apple CarPlay Fees Coming to BMW Canada?
BMW is turning the popular Apple CarPlay connectivity software into a yearly subscription based service in the US. With the changes south of the border, are changes coming to BMW Canada as well?
BMW offers CarPlay as standard on some models, like the 750i, but on most models it's only available with or as an add-on to an option package. On the 330i, it's part of the $4,000 M Sport Edition. On the X5, it comes as a $750 add-on to the $4,200 Premium Package Essential. Pricey for an option that comes standard on many base model cars from other brands.
Speaking with Verge, BMW North America Technology Product Manager Don Smith said that CarPlay would become a yearly service starting next year. Free the first year, and US $80 after that. In the US, CarPlay is a currently a $300 addition to cars equipped with navigation.
Smith said the change gives users choice. "This allows the customer to switch devices," he said. "A lot of people buy [CarPlay] and think it’s okay, but sometimes they stop using it or switch to Android." BMW does not currently offer Android Auto, but is adding Amazon Alexa to new models as well as Google Assistant.
So will CarPlay become a subscription service in Canada? BMW Canada told us in a statement that "as of today, in Canada there will be no changes to the BMW Smartphone Connectivity package for current model year vehicles."
That's the same information as the first half of what came from BMW USA. No changes this year. It does not address the possibility of changes for next year. So Apple CarPlay may still become a subscription service next model year.
But that may not be a bad thing. BMW is not likely to make the feature standard equipment on more models if customers are willing to pay for it. At the US $80 price, CarPlay would be around $100 yearly in Canada. If the buyer of the above X5 were to pay yearly, a typical 36 or 48 month lease would see the buyer paying $200 or $300, rather than $750. In that case, it could be better for the original buyer. Android users could see a reduction in the price of the packages that include CarPlay, not paying for a feature they cannot use.
