- Mazda is ending its complimentary connected service for several owners.
- Now it’ll charge $10 a month for things like remote start and remote keyless entry.
- Owners express frustration over the new fee, questioning the value of the subscription.
Mazda Connected Services is a group of features offered by the automaker for the first three years of ownership. Now, it’s officially moving several of those features under a $10 monthly subscription. Owners have roughly two months to decide if they’ll keep the services and pay up or lose them.
The news initially popped up not in a press release from Mazda but instead in personal messages to owners. “As a valued member of the Mazda family, we want to inform you that your complimentary 3-year trial of Mazda Connected Services will expire in 60 days,” the message says.
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When time runs out, remote unlocking, remote start, and vehicle status/health reports will no longer be available. Of course, buyers can sign up to pay $10 a month and keep those services. Owners on Reddit were quick to complain and express their disinterest.
“You pay 30-60K for a car. Remote start should least be on the key fob and the app where the app has further range and capability but you still have the option to start your car when it’s snowing outside,” said one.
“They gave a cease and desist to the free open source Home Assistant plugin that used their API, so they can (explicit) right off with their $10 fee,” said another.
That comment refers to how Mazda ended an open-source platform built by a third-party developer. Owners liked how the system allowed them to check fuel levels before leaving in the morning or even start their car with smart home gadgets and apps.
Mazda’s response
Mazda told Carscoops about the situation: “Since Mazda Connected Services launched in 2019, we have advertised to customers that they receive a complimentary 3-year trial of Mazda Connected Services, after which time a payment would be required to continue the Connected Services. For customers who have exceeded this 3-year trial period, we have continued to extend the complimentary trial period with the notification that the free trial would transition to a paid subscription service at a future date.”
It appears that in the eyes of Mazda, it’s been generous to this point. Will customers actually pay up? Surely some will but only time will tell if the juice is worth the squeeze on Mazda’s reputation.
