Features that once came with the vehicle, or were purchased once as an option, can now be packaged through monthly or annual subscriptions. Your Car Is Becoming an App StoreModern vehicles are packed with computers, cameras, cellular connections, and software that can be updated without a dealership visit. That lets automakers sell features long after the car leaves the factory. The problem begins when the owner is asked to keep paying for hardware already installed in a car they bought. The post quickly filled with thousands of comments from frustrated drivers who argued that paying monthly to unlock hardware they've already purchased feels fundamentally different from paying for a streaming service or mobile app.