Remote start with the key fob
It seems Toyota is not happy with the somewhat negative reaction from people who discovered their basic remote-start functionality might require a monthly subscription. somewhat negative refers to a blowback that caused some people to wonder if Toyota would ever charge a monthly subscription for unlocking their cars.
Toyota is lauding the fact that executives at the company seem to be listening. According to The Drive the subscription requirement for vehicles with basic remote-operated transmitter start is being reevaluated. According to the report, Toyota didn’t anticipate the backlash that it would receive after word got out about the subscription requirement. This is what you can imagine.
The subscription was not the problem. It was the requirement for a remote connected service subscription to access what is essentially an analog feature that does not require a connected service. The newer cars with fob-activated remote starts use the same connected services software, but it is not included in a bundled subscription. The key fob will send a basic signal to the vehicle, but it will not fire up the engine unless the software is subscribed. Older cars that have fob-activated remote starts are not affected by the subscription requirement.
Future cars will only have remote start via app-controlled functions that require a subscription. This is in contrast to the simple button on a key fob. The report states that Toyota doesn’t believe it can seperate the transmitter control and the connected services software for Toyota vehicle owners. This is apparently part of an ongoing evaluation.