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

[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 ?!?

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[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.

 

[SmoothJ]

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.

It was only a small subset of EA users and the next batch will be sent out in the next several weeks. They take what they learned from this batch and correct any issues with the deployment.

 

[TaxmanHog]

It was only a small subset of EA users and the next batch will be sent out in the next several weeks. They take what they learned from this batch and correct any issues with the deployment.

 

[3121]

You won’t.

Why not? Sounds like others have received it.

 

[Meddle]

Why not? Sounds like others have received it.

I’m not confident that is true. As I understood one of the techs here, the front sensors csp was required for BC to be pushed or queued.
It still seems it is only for EAP members.
If it makes you feel any better, I had the update done a month ago and no BC1.4 here.

 

[Strike_Twice]

I have literally no clue what version I am on. Got a 2024 Flash about two weeks ago and it has lane change assist (have to hit the signal for it to get over), and I'm really wanting a version that passes traffic without me queing it.

 

[bewbie]

Still waiting for this Blue Cruise update. Haven’t received any OTA updates since my last one on September 5th wonder if that has anything to do with it.

@Ford Motor Company any help?

 

[3121]

I’m not confident that is true. As I understood one of the techs here, the front sensors csp was required for BC to be pushed or queued.
It still seems it is only for EAP members.
If it makes you feel any better, I had the update done a month ago and no BC1.4 here.

Ok so guessing. Thanks for clarifying.
Due respect, others with established credibility and deep knowledge in the updates have stated otherwise.
Time will tell. Thanks for sharing your guess though.

 

[lipnorth]

I'm still in 1.4 f'in limbo. But I did get the year extension.

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