Report cites legal issues behind move
Subscription power boost to cost $1,200/year
Mercedes-Benz USA is getting ready to let you add power to your EQ in exchange for an annual fee. But a new report says that owners in Europe won’t be getting the same offer.
The EQ Acceleration Increase is listed as “coming soon” on the MB USA site. It will cut a full second off of the 0-60 mph acceleration time, and change the “motor characteristic curve, torque, and maximum output.” Available for all EQ models including the Mercedes-Benz EQE and EQS sedans and SUVs, it adds up to 87 hp of output.
Mercedes-Benz plans to charge $1,200 a year for the acceleration upgrades, a figure that has the internet tied in knots.
Top Gear Netherlands reports that the subscription service will not be offered in Europe. The report cites a company spokesperson who said that “legal matters” are the reason Mercedes-Benz can’t offer it in Europe.
The company didn’t elaborate, other than to say that because the upgrade relates to engine power that there were some legal issues around the offering.
Subscription services for cars aren’t exactly new, but they are very quickly becoming a touchy subject. BMW in South Korea announced that it would make heated seats a subscription service earlier this year, and Audi has made certain climate control settings subscription only. Mercedes-Benz has also made accessing the full range of rear steering an extra-cost subscription in some markets.
