New Toyota car owners will need to pay a $8/mo so their key fob can remote-start their car. Cars before 2018 are excluded, because their internal 3G networks are about to go offline, disabling Toyota's remote control. https://arstechnica.com/cars/2021/12/toyota-owners-have-to-pay-8-mo-to-keep-using-their-key-fob-for-remote-start/

Every car maker is looking for ways to turn a one-time car purchase into a subscription, because technology now grants them remote control of your car. I wrote more about this phenomenon here: https://puri.sm/posts/locked-in-a-remote-control-car/

I'm so glad my vehicles are in good shape, and from before this era of always-on networks and remote control. If I needed a car, I wouldn't buy a new one.

@kyle I am so torn. I feel like one of the plug-in hybrids is the responsible choice, but HELL NO I don’t want someone else in control of my car. It’s mine or it isn’t, screw subscriptions.

@Stacky My hope is that by the time I do need to get a different car, either the current situation w/ remote control will improve, or else there will be more off-the-shelf EV conversion kits available for older cars.