Featured Germany Forces Lexus to Remotely Kill Car Heating In Dead Of Winter

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by soft_r, Jan 16, 2026.

  1. soft_r

    soft_r Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2024
    183
    151
    4
    Location:
    Beverly Hills
    Vehicle:
    2024 Prius
    Model:
    LE
    Germany Forces Lexus to Remotely Kill Car Heating In Dead Of Winter

    As some know I'm the paranoid person who goes on about the DCM and how remote access to vehicles is a security concern. It's not just about bad actors attempting to hack your vehicle, it's also about govt and the manufacturer having 24/7 access to your car, which they clearly do.

    Here we have a car manufacturer remotely disabling features without a customer's consent by demand of a govt.

    Do keep in mind that Germany's global CO2 contribution is 1.6% and falling while China's is 32% and rising. But apparently people warming up their cars in the morning is a problem. This is a country that decided that listening to the crazy activists and shutting down their nuclear power production and going back to fossil fuels was somehow a good idea. Whether you're in Germany or another country I assure you that your govt isn't any smarter; they have access to your car and can disable features or even the vehicle itself without your consent as long as it's connected.
     
    #1 soft_r, Jan 16, 2026
    VelvetFoot likes this.
  2. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2006
    23,508
    12,591
    0
    Location:
    eastern Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Germany didn't force them.
    "To protect the vehicle user from fines, we have deactivated the function on these vehicles."
    Lexus-Kunden schockiert: Standheizung per Fernzugriff abgeschaltet | Leben & Wissen | BILD.de
    It only applies to ICE models. The response stems from law for reducing fossil fuel use in Germany.

    While there are valid reasons for not having a connected car, that connection isn't in play here. Lexus removed the feature from the app. People that disconnect their car, would have removed the remote heating themselves. People are still free to go out to the car to start it manually, perhaps even install a non-internet remote starter.

    Germany has had a strong anti-nuclear movement for decades, though the more recent plant shutdowns were a reaction to Fukushima.
     
    #2 Trollbait, Jan 16, 2026
    3PriusMike likes this.
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)