4 ms·

"In the future you'll own nothing, and you'll be happy." Unless your Social Credit score gets too low. In that case, you'll get a free trip to the re-education

"In the future you'll own nothing, and you'll be happy." Unless your Social Credit score gets too low. In that case, you'll get a free trip to the re-education camp.

ccooffee 4y ago
Eh, it feels like they're merely trying to undercut Tesla's Lease offers. Sure, call it a subscription, and talk about low time commitments (3 months vs 36 through Tesla), but it is the same idea. Like leasing, this comes with the downsides of car ownership (maintenance, fuel, parking) without the upside of "equity". Based on the submission title, I was expecting something more akin to ZipCar (but only electric vehicles).
- UIUC_06 4y ago
  Ah, well, if it's basically the same as leasing: never mind. Funny, I got a ZipCard and never used it.
ccn0p 4y ago
my first thought also. you might be debt free but you no longer own the things needed for survival (assuming food/work/etc are drive distance).
- gruez 4y ago
  Realistically speaking that's already the case today because there's already a recurring expense that you have to pay: property taxes.
  - userbinator 4y ago
    Not everywhere. Also, one recurring expense doesn't necessarily mean people want another.
pengaru 4y ago
> you'll get a free trip to the re-education camp. In your own "subscription" autonomous EV when it quietly locks all doors and reroutes to the nearest facility. You won't have noticed though; too distracted by the UberHD++ remaster of 2001: A Space Odyssey playing on the holographic windscreen.
- CatWChainsaw 4y ago
  Not sure why you're downvoted when even non-electric cars can be hacked and rerouted. The Grand Future also wants fully autonomous cars to not even have old-fashioned things like steering wheels and dashboards.
- q7xvh97o2pDhNrh 4y ago
  You guys are scaring me. In all seriousness, though, I'm currently car-shopping, and I would gladly pay a massive premium for a car with the minimum-viable amount of electronic/connected nonsense. As far as I can tell, the only legally-required bit of electronic shenanigans is the backup cameras. I'd love a car that just had that, mechanical switches for everything else, and some USB-C/USB-A/aux ports where I can plug in my devices.
  - seanmcdirmid 4y ago
    The emissions logic is non trivial. Also, it’s just more expensive to build analog everything these days, and most consumers will think digital is shinier anyways.
  - UIUC_06 4y ago
    Actually, my car has the parallel-parking assist, and I've learned to use it to get a perfect parking job, first time every time! So I've got that going for me, which is nice.
  - userbinator 4y ago
    If you're looking for an EV in particular I don't think there's much if any "dumb" models, but otherwise if you're not looking for a new car either, then there's plenty on the used and even classic/vintage market.
rdtwo 4y ago
I’m ok with own nothing but I’m not ok with pay an large upfront ownership lite fee and get no actual rights Or ownership model

"In the future you'll own nothing, and you'll be happy." Unless your Social Credit score gets too low. In that case, you'll get a free trip to the re-education camp.

ccooffee 4y ago

Eh, it feels like they're merely trying to undercut Tesla's Lease offers. Sure, call it a subscription, and talk about low time commitments (3 months vs 36 through Tesla), but it is the same idea. Like leasing, this comes with the downsides of car ownership (maintenance, fuel, parking) without the upside of "equity". Based on the submission title, I was expecting something more akin to ZipCar (but only electric vehicles).

UIUC_06 4y ago
Ah, well, if it's basically the same as leasing: never mind. Funny, I got a ZipCard and never used it.

ccn0p 4y ago

my first thought also. you might be debt free but you no longer own the things needed for survival (assuming food/work/etc are drive distance).

gruez 4y ago
Realistically speaking that's already the case today because there's already a recurring expense that you have to pay: property taxes.
- userbinator 4y ago
  Not everywhere. Also, one recurring expense doesn't necessarily mean people want another.

pengaru 4y ago

> you'll get a free trip to the re-education camp. In your own "subscription" autonomous EV when it quietly locks all doors and reroutes to the nearest facility. You won't have noticed though; too distracted by the UberHD++ remaster of 2001: A Space Odyssey playing on the holographic windscreen.

CatWChainsaw 4y ago
Not sure why you're downvoted when even non-electric cars can be hacked and rerouted. The Grand Future also wants fully autonomous cars to not even have old-fashioned things like steering wheels and dashboards.
q7xvh97o2pDhNrh 4y ago
You guys are scaring me. In all seriousness, though, I'm currently car-shopping, and I would gladly pay a massive premium for a car with the minimum-viable amount of electronic/connected nonsense. As far as I can tell, the only legally-required bit of electronic shenanigans is the backup cameras. I'd love a car that just had that, mechanical switches for everything else, and some USB-C/USB-A/aux ports where I can plug in my devices.
- seanmcdirmid 4y ago
  The emissions logic is non trivial. Also, it’s just more expensive to build analog everything these days, and most consumers will think digital is shinier anyways.
- UIUC_06 4y ago
  Actually, my car has the parallel-parking assist, and I've learned to use it to get a perfect parking job, first time every time! So I've got that going for me, which is nice.
- userbinator 4y ago
  If you're looking for an EV in particular I don't think there's much if any "dumb" models, but otherwise if you're not looking for a new car either, then there's plenty on the used and even classic/vintage market.

rdtwo 4y ago

I’m ok with own nothing but I’m not ok with pay an large upfront ownership lite fee and get no actual rights Or ownership model