Bluecruise 1.4 officially being sent out to F150 & Lightnings starting today (12/11/24)!

[RyZac]

This is awesome!

Interesting freebie. I wonder why? Have they realized BC is still beta and offered an additional year as goodwill?

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[tnugentfl]

Interesting freebie. I wonder why? Have they realized BC is still beta and offered an additional year as goodwill?

I would think because of the delay in getting the most recent versions to everyone.

 

[TaxmanHog]

Free extension requested, might take some time to reflect on the status screen.

 

[Deleted member 12322]

The free year was the only available plan but I went ahead and jumped on it. I'm still showing the 3 year trial but I also have a positive order confirmation for another year after the trial for $0.

 

[Gimme_my_MME]

The free extension really is a big deal. @Ford Motor Company you really could have made a lot of good vibes by being ahead of this and issuing a statement.

 

[GDN]

I'll give Ford props for the extra year, but do we really have to go through a simulated purchase to get it. They can't fun a quick sql update query and just do it on the back end for us. Any intern can do that for them.

 

[Gerstein1989]

Just wish they would do this with the 2024 too. I picked up my truck a week ago and the software is still what it shipped with. No updates and it was probably sitting on a lot for 6 months.

 

[GDN]

My guess is they want people to choose to get it (or need to hear about it) rather than everyone getting it.

I have to imagine their are quite a few who won't get it, and quite a few who won't hear about the offer.

I found the dedicated thread on this, and it seems in the fine print it also turns on auto-renewal. So I guess that is maybe how they plan on getting some of us. One more year free, but then many will auto-renew for $495 and not cancel.

I was thinking since they had only done it for the '22's and '23's is I thought we had paid $600 for the BC for 3 years - so this was a trade off. However, I found a copy of my window sticker and there is no separate charge for the BC. It is just included in the price for 3 years. Not sure how they made that decision.

 

[TaxmanHog]

If it's a bait to auto renewal of subscription, an ethical company should send a reminder ~30 days prior to let us opt-out or select an appropriate membership billing method yearly or monthly before anything happens.

I'll calendar it, who doesn't celebrate the anniversary of their vehicle acquisitions ?!?

 

[PrimeRisk]

I'll give Ford props for the extra year, but do we really have to go through a simulated purchase to get it. They can't fun a quick sql update query and just do it on the back end for us. Any intern can do that for them.

A few possibilities:

1) It's a carrot to get us enrolled in automatic renewal. Most people are lazy and over a year from now will forget that they've provided a credit card number and will automatically renew. If they just tacked on the extra year and sent you an e-mail then they wouldn't be able to capture your billing information.

2) They need to show subscriber conversion numbers following the end of the trial growing, not falling off of a cliff. Those getting this offer aren't getting an extension of the trial, they are subscribing for $0. It doesn't generate revenue, but it allows them to report larger successful conversion numbers. Anyone who signed up for this free extension is now a signed-up subscriber in the record books. Just extending your trial via a script does not make you a subscriber.

3) They screwed up and only intended to offer this to a subset of owners like those that have actually paid for the subscription before the price drop and this is something they'd offer if they complained. Let's face it, some people just think BlueCruise is the best thing on the planet and why give them a freebie if they're willing to pay without it?

#1 is likely the value proposition that internally got them to give away the free year. Just like other software, they give away a free or very reduced price first year so they can capture your billing information. They know that a significant percentage of people will forget about it and then get billed for the renewal before they realize it. Often companies will bill early for the renewal, thus forcing you to go through the hassle of contacting them before the actual end to get your money back in you intend to cancel before the trial is up. Most simply won't.

Apple TV did this to me over the holidays. I signed up for a 3-month free trial on a Black Friday deal. I should still be over a week away from the end of the free trial, but they tried to hit my credit card 2 weeks ago. Bummer for them, I used a Virtual Account Number from my credit card company that wouldn't allow them to charge me.

Good for Ford, at least they're trying to do something other than spend money on advertising trying to convince people that BlueCruise is the best hands-free driving software out there.

 

[richguy82]

I have 2023 Lightning. This free year extension is not an option in my FordPass app or the website. My original is set to expire in Oct 2026.

 

[ashadkc9]

A few possibilities:

1) It's a carrot to get us enrolled in automatic renewal. Most people are lazy and over a year from now will forget that they've provided a credit card number and will automatically renew. If they just tacked on the extra year and sent you an e-mail then they wouldn't be able to capture your billing information.

2) They need to show subscriber conversion numbers following the end of the trial growing, not falling off of a cliff. Those getting this offer aren't getting an extension of the trial, they are subscribing for $0. It doesn't generate revenue, but it allows them to report larger successful conversion numbers. Anyone who signed up for this free extension is now a signed-up subscriber in the record books. Just extending your trial via a script does not make you a subscriber.

3) They screwed up and only intended to offer this to a subset of owners like those that have actually paid for the subscription before the price drop and this is something they'd offer if they complained. Let's face it, some people just think BlueCruise is the best thing on the planet and why give them a freebie if they're willing to pay without it?

#1 is likely the value proposition that internally got them to give away the free year. Just like other software, they give away a free or very reduced price first year so they can capture your billing information. They know that a significant percentage of people will forget about it and then get billed for the renewal before they realize it. Often companies will bill early for the renewal, thus forcing you to go through the hassle of contacting them before the actual end to get your money back in you intend to cancel before the trial is up. Most simply won't.

Apple TV did this to me over the holidays. I signed up for a 3-month free trial on a Black Friday deal. I should still be over a week away from the end of the free trial, but they tried to hit my credit card 2 weeks ago. Bummer for them, I used a Virtual Account Number from my credit card company that wouldn't allow them to charge me.

Good for Ford, at least they're trying to do something other than spend money on advertising trying to convince people that BlueCruise is the best hands-free driving software out there.

What I am hoping for is that for those of us that "paid" on the sticker for the 3 years, Ford will allow us to convert to the "lifetime" subscription like they are offering new folks. I know that its wishful thinking...

 

[PrimeRisk]

What I am hoping for is that for those of us that "paid" on the sticker for the 3 years, Ford will allow us to convert to the "lifetime" subscription like they are offering new folks. I know that its wishful thinking...

For those with a paid line item for 3 years of service at $2100 (I think), I agree, they should allow owners the opportunity to buy up the difference. Those with 22 and 23 MY vehicles that came with 3-year trials I don't think that's fair to offer that, though I think that all owners should be offered the opportunity to buy the lifetime subscription now that it's offered on some vehicles, even if there is no credit for previous paid subscriptions.

This is how Tesla does it. I didn't buy the lifetime FSD when I purchased a MYP in 2021 I really didn't know if it would be worth in. I paid $199/month for two months before I decided that it was worth it enough to buy lifetime for $10k. I didn't expect a credit for the $400 I had paid for the monthly service. In April 2024 the monthly sub dropped to $99. Had I continued with FSD subscription, I would have paid about $8,200 at this point ($200/month for the first 3 years + $100/month for the last 10 months). Now I'm under 2 years away from break-even and barring an accident that totals the vehicle, the $10k investment was a smart deal.

 

[Meddle]

Can anyone confirm getting BC 1.4 without getting the CSP for the front sensors done?

I’m hoping to avoid dropping my truck off at the dealership to spend a day in door-ding alley.

You won’t.

 

[PJnc284]

Several have reported getting the 1.4 update without the front sensor csp. Those in EAP appear to be the only ones that have received it so far though.

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