Subscription-based services will soon find their way inside several Ford models in Australia. Owners of Blue Oval vehicles in the Oceanic region, manufactured from 2020 onward, will soon face a monthly subscription fee to maintain access to their navigation systems – features that are currently provided at no cost.
As of January 2nd, 2025, the connected built-in navigation systems will switch to a subscription model, ending users’ current, no-cost access to the features, according to CarExpert. Customers will be charged $15 AUD monthly or $110 AUD annually to keep the features active.
Ford still offers a one-year trial period for connected navigation features on new vehicles, which activates on the warranty start date. However, if customers still want to take advantage of the live traffic data, updated map, and weather data features, they will need to pay for a subscription.
While the aforementioned features will be locked behind a paywall, the satellite navigation in Ford vehicles will remain unaffected. Additionally, the navigation and live traffic features bundled into the likes of Android Auto, Waze, and Apple CarPlay are unaffected, as are safety features like sign recognition and adaptive cruise control.
Affected models include every Australian Ford vehicle built later than mid-2020, such as the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Ford Mustang, Ford Ranger, and Ford F-150. Discontinued models like the Ford Focus and Ford Fiesta are also included in the subscription change.
Australian Ford owners aren’t the only ones facing changes to their integrated navigation systems. In the United States, the 2025 Ford F-150 loses its factory navigation features on the XL and STX trims, although they are available in the higher-tiered trims. The Ford Bronco, meanwhile, no longer offers its 90-day subscription navigation option, replaced by one year of complimentary Connected Navigation. The 2024 Ford Escape also axed its complimentary three-year Connected Navigation subscription, instead offering just one year of no-cost service for newly purchased vehicles.
Comment
Paying subscription fees for a nav system you paid for will drive me to shop elsewhere. Cut this $hit out!