- Ads for Sirius XM appear in Subarus
- The Japanese brand claims it has had no complaints
- A growing number of manufacturers are testing ads in cars
According to reports from Subaru owners in North America, pop-up ads have started appearing on the infotainment systems of a number of models, causing a Reddit and forum-based outcry from those unhappy with the decision.
One Reddit user said an ad for Sirius XM popped up on the screen while driving 55 mph, and the owner said they “almost broke because of it.”
This prompted a number of other commenters to wade into the thread, with some claiming that this has only happened occasionally and ticking the ‘don’t show me again’ button prevents the ads from appearing.
While others have said they receive the pop-up once or twice a week, claiming it “frightens” them every time. One Reddit user said: “This seriously p*ssed me off as it happened to me even while I was driving”.
Autopian contacted Subaru for comment, but the Japanese brand claimed it was “the first we’ve heard of any issue” and that it had not directly received negative comments from customers until now.
Advertisements in the car will not disappear
Stellantis, which is the parent company of Jeep, Chrysler, Ram, Fiat and many more, has hit the headlines on several occasions this year due to reports that it has also pushed pop-up ads to the infotainment systems in its models.
What’s more, users complained that there was no way to opt out of the ads, and Setallantis claimed it was just a bug.
The various posts that appeared on the X showed the entire infotainment screen covered by a huge pop-up box notifying the driver of a loyalty cash bonus scheme, with a small cross in the top-right corner that required a poke of a finger to shut it down.
At the time, The Autopian contacted Stellantis, who said that “The In-Vehicle Message (IVM) technology in the Uconnect system is an important link that helps Stellantis stay in touch with our owners at critical points in their ownership”.
We’ve reported on other manufacturers engaging in similar activities, with Tesla’s latest Throne: Ares update, angering owners who thought it felt too much like a promotional tie-in.
With automakers looking for new revenue streams, a Software Defined Vehicle (SDV) – one that 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 fine to send ads to infotainment screens, hoping an owner will sign up for a deal when stuck in traffic, it’s clearly struck a nerve with those who feel it’s intrusive, overbearing, and at worst, distracting to the point of being dangerous.
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