Renault has a remote locking “feature” on the batteries of their electric cars. They used it in Portugal, and that was considered illegal.

@movq@www.uninformativ.de I don’t really know. Here’s a concerning quote:

«A juíza considerou que, apesar de a Renault Portugal ter garantido que a empresa e a marca não tinham meios para bloquear as viaturas, se fez prova de que “há uma plataforma informática que foi accionada, de forma que as requeridas não concretizaram, e através da qual foi operado primeiro o bloqueio e depois o desbloqueio das baterias”.»

my translation:

«The judge considered that, despite Renault Portugal having claimed the company and brand has no means to block the vehicles, it was proved that “there is a computer platform that was activated, in a way not disclosed, and through which was operated first the blocking and then the unblocking of the batteries”.»

BMW for example provide SIMs in their vehicles and up to a few years of plans with local telcos.

it’s not clear to me what happens when this runs out though 🤔

Or if you can even opt out 🤔