Mercedes-Benz EQS gets rear-wheel steering as a subscription

KUALA LUMPUR: The Mercedes-Benz EQS battery-electric sedan is offered in two levels of rear-wheel-steer capability. While one turns the rear wheel up to 4.5 degrees, another offers a 10 degrees angle. Now, the German automaker has designed each EQS with a hardware to attain 10 degrees steer angle, it’s the EV’s software and optional kit determining whether the rear wheel rotates at all or to its mechanical limits.

For instance, a 10-degree arrangement is offered as a standard fitment in the U.S. In Germany, on the other hand, customers need to pick between 4.5-degree and 10-degree trim options. As per reports from a German portal, Mercedes is offering the 10-degree system at an annual fee of 489 euros, a three-year subscription will cost 1,168 euros. Note the system can be purchased post-sales as an OTA update. Without opting for it, the rear wheel will have a steering angle of up to 4.5 degrees.

Furthermore, the publication also stated that a 360-degree camera on the rear wheels needs to be specified, which is an additional 1,130 euros from the customer's pocket.

Wondering whether it's right or not for Mercedes to change for a feature that's already present in the car? Well, it is a long debate, but what you should know is that now it has become a common practice with automakers like Tesla, BMW, and Porsche adopting a similar path.

Modern-day cars are more software-driven and OTA updates give carmakers provision to set up paywalls for some functionality or other.

Talking about Malaysia, in the past, such practices were not well received. For instance when a subscription fee was charged by BMW Malaysia for Apple CarPlay.

What are your thoughts on such practices? Do let us know in the comments.

Also Read: Mercedes-Benz to become an electric-only brand by 2030