Mercedes will charge electric vehicle owners to accelerate faster

Luxury automaker Mercedes-Benz will roll out a new line of electric cars that can go fast – at a price.

Buyers of Mercedes’ upcoming all-electric EQ models will have to shell out $1,200 a year for rapid acceleration, The ride reported. The $1,200 subscription boosts the car’s maximum horsepower and torque and lets it accelerate from 0-60 mph up to a second faster. The cost for this “gear increase” is similar to Tesla’s “ridiculous mode,” which gives drivers a speed boost for a one-time fee of $10,000.

Related: Mercedes will show its Tesla-Fighting Electric Sedan in September

Mercedes and Tesla aren’t the only car companies charging for features that drivers have long considered standard in traditional gas-powered vehicles. In July, BMW began charging owners of its electric cars $18 a month for heated seats, sparking outrage from customers, according to customers. New York Post. The reaction ultimately prompted BMW to do so release a statement clarify his decision, but assure drivers that the new charge is here to stay.

While customers may be upset about the costs, they could become the new normal in the automotive industry as automakers solve different systems in a changing market. As the new vehicle market has declined in recent years, automakers have shifted their focus to developing software and subscriptions to build a continuous revenue stream, according to The edge.

Regarding Mercedes’ recent subscription package, some drivers are as outraged as BMW owners were just a few months ago, with one Twitter user saying the update is “turning people off”.

@Mercedes Benz this has to stop. Performance car subscriptions are just ripping people off.
Everyone needs to let Mercedes (by extension the industry) know that this is not acceptable.#Mercedes #subscription #Capitalismhttps://t.co/yrQNNCoSTx

— Ian Thomson (@ianthomson86) November 21, 2022

Related: Mercedes unveils first heavy-duty electric van