It will be interesting to see how the larger issue of "ownership" is going to play out in an iCar (TM) world .
Considering that you may still legally own the car but you're only licensing out your car manufacturer's software, it doesn't take much imagination of getting physically restrained by your cars' over the air capabilities:
- Missed an installment on your lease/financing plan? -> Grounded
- Took your car in for service at an non-authorized shop? (think Apple disabling third party charging equipment) -> Grounded
- (Some malicious actor injecting ransomware -> Grounded)
Vehicles are already far more regulated than smartphones, it's not a stretch to imagine that "turning off your car" for something like taking it to a non-authorized shop should be illegal. (Utilities, for example, can't turn off your heat in winter for nonpayment in many states.)
That said, Deere's made a business of it, so what do I know?
Yeah. Tesla is pretty much the apple computer of the electric vehicle world, and they've set a bad precedent for ownership of electric cars.
I think if market forces are allowed to decide fairly (they won't be) that consumers will choose a vehicle they own and have the right to repair over a Tesla that's licensed and can be bricked remotely at any time.
It will be interesting to see how the larger issue of "ownership" is going to play out in an iCar (TM) world . Considering that you may still legally own the car but you're only licensing out your car manufacturer's software, it doesn't take much imagination of getting physically restrained by your cars' over the air capabilities:
- Missed an installment on your lease/financing plan? -> Grounded - Took your car in for service at an non-authorized shop? (think Apple disabling third party charging equipment) -> Grounded - (Some malicious actor injecting ransomware -> Grounded)