VW makes Automobile-Web free for five years after kidnapping debacle
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Final month, police attempting to find a stolen automobile with a baby within the again seat have been advised by Volkswagen’s Automobile-Web service that they’d must pay for a subscription earlier than the GPS locator was enabled. Now the automaker has introduced it’s making the service free for purchasers of newer VW vehicles, for the following 5 years.
Automobile-Web Secure & Safe is Volkswagen’s connected-services system, and it presents options like distant begin, emergency help, anti-theft alerts, automated crash notifications, and, to the purpose of our story, stolen-vehicle location help. The system was previously provided solely to clients who paid a subscription payment, however after final month’s unhealthy headlines, Volkswagen is eradicating the paywall, not less than for some time.
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2023 Volkswagen Tiguan
MSRP $33,995 to $44,495
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2023 Volkswagen Atlas
MSRP $42,495 to $58,995
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2023 Volkswagen Jetta
MSRP $23,295 to $34,495
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2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
MSRP $41,395 to $57,895
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2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI
MSRP $32,495 to $41,295
Now, drivers of VW fashions constructed between 2020 and 2023 will have the ability to use Automobile-Web’s suite of providers at no cost for 5 years after their automobile’s sale date, or June 1, 2023, whichever comes after.
“Volkswagen should and can do higher for everybody that trusts our model, and for the legislation enforcement officers tasked with defending us,” stated Rachael Zaluzec, the corporate’s senior vice-president of buyer experiences and model advertising and marketing, in an announcement.
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“Along with a full investigation of what went flawed and actions taken to handle the failure, we wish to make it proper for the long run.”
The incident final month came about in Lake County, Illinois, when a mom was unloading her youngsters from her Volkswagen Atlas and a masked stranger stole the automobile along with her youngest nonetheless inside, battering the mom within the course of and sending her to hospital. The kid was later situated, protected and sound, following a tip from a member of the general public.
