- Ads for Sirius XM appear in Subarus
- The Japanese brand claims to have received no complaints
- A growing number of manufacturers are testing in-car advertising
According to reports from Subaru owners in North America, pop-up ads began appearing on the infotainment systems of a number of models, causing an outcry on Reddit and forums from those who were unhappy with the decision.
One Reddit user said an ad for Sirius XM appeared on the screen while driving at 55 mph, and the owner said they “almost wrecked because of it.”
This led to a number of other commenters weighing in on the thread, with some saying it only happened occasionally and, by checking the “Don’t show me again” button, it prevents ads from appearing.
While others reported receiving the pop-up once or twice a week, saying it “surprised” them every time. One Reddit user said: “It seriously pissed me off when this happened to me, also when I was driving.”
The Autopian reached out to Subaru for comment, but the Japanese brand said this was “the first time we’ve heard of an issue” and that it hasn’t received any negative feedback from customers so far.
In-car ads don’t disappear
Stellantis, which is the parent company of Jeep, Chrysler, Ram, Fiat and more, has made headlines several times this year due to reports that it also served pop-up ads on its models’ infotainment systems.
Additionally, users complained that there was no way to opt out of ads, with Setallantis saying this was just a hassle.
The various messages that appeared on
At the time, The Autopian contacted Stellantis, who said that “the Uconnect system’s in-vehicle message (IVM) technology is an important link that helps Stellantis stay in touch with our owners at critical moments in their ownership.”
We have reported that other manufacturers are engaging in similar activities, with Tesla’s recent project Tron: Ares update angering owners who thought it looked too much like a promotional link.
As automakers look for new revenue streams, Software Defined Vehicle (SDV) – which can be automatically updated via over-the-air software packages – presents a golden opportunity to reach a captive audience.
While automakers may think it’s OK to put ads on infotainment screens, hoping an owner will sign a deal when stuck in traffic, it has clearly struck a chord with those who feel it’s intrusive, overbearing and, in the worst cases, distracting to the point of being dangerous.
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