Having had to pay subscriptions for our Teslas and then our Mercedes EQB for similar reason I’m used to it so wasn’t surprised myself. Price of admission I guess.
That's tough - coming from a couple of Teslas with glass roofs, I specifically found a Taycan with a solid roof. The States does get the short end of the stick - coloured side indicators, no active matrix headlights, forced glass roof.... what else...
I get the theory and believe that we will get there one day, even soon.
But as Tesla drivers know, humans can recognise with their eyes that it is raining, but the Tesla camera AI keeps getting it wrong, with dry wiping happening constantly, and the wipers not coming on when it's raining...
Interesting Audi is selling EVs just for the China market.
The Audi EX7 is quite amazing. Only in China though.
https://www.audi-mediacenter.com/en/press-releases/audi-e7x-all-electric-premium-suv-for-china-16935...
Welcome! I’m similar - drove 911s and Boxster before kids, then moved away to more practical cars, now that the kids are older, have gone Taycan as well.
I think the horses to car analogy will be more similar with the transition from current driving to self-driving - just like right now people can still ride horses for fun, but they drive cars for daily transport, in future (probably not immediate future) people can still drive cars for fun but...
A 100 years ago, people were probably saying:
"I love my horse", "don't tell me what I can or cannot ride", "all I need to do is feed my horse hay, I don't need no gas", "I love the sound of my horse galloping, neighing and the feel of my bum on the saddle"... lol