Popup Ads in Your Pickup Truck? RAM Trucks Now Feature Scammy Ads on the Center Display (fuelarc.com)
from KayLeadfoot@fedia.io to technology@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 02:17
https://fedia.io/m/technology@lemmy.world/t/2532964

Well folks, it finally happened. The screen in your pickup truck… your last bastion of peace from the chaos of unskippable advertisements… now plays popup ads. Not even subtle ones. We’re talking full-dash, head-unit-commandeering infomercial panels in your RAM 1500, like you’re driving a Times Square billboard on wheels.

#adtecg #advertisement #popup #ram #technology #truck

threaded - newest

spongebue@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 02:23 next collapse

Of course Stellantis was first to do it

megopie@lemmy.blahaj.zone on 08 Aug 2025 02:31 next collapse

“Hey guys our sales are falling through the floor faster than Tesla, maybe we should rework our pricing and reconsider our policies towards buyers to move more volume and improve our imagine.”

“ Uh… nah. How about instead, we put ads on the center console!”

BakerBagel@midwest.social on 08 Aug 2025 03:33 next collapse

They rolled it out foest with Jeeps earlier this year

jubilationtcornpone@sh.itjust.works on 08 Aug 2025 05:07 next collapse

Gotta carry on the proud Chrysler traditions of shunning innovation and making poor business decisions.

843563115848@lemmy.zip on 08 Aug 2025 05:08 collapse

I just got new neighbors out here in rural Kansas. They have two kias and a ram pickup for the man. If only they had a jeep it would be like a nearly complete set of the shittiest vehicles money can buy. Looking forward to exciting things here.

ayyy@sh.itjust.works on 08 Aug 2025 06:32 collapse

Kia is known for shitty locks, but that seems like a non-issue in rural Kansas? It’s not like they have ads in the dashboard.

hddsx@lemmy.ca on 09 Aug 2025 14:22 collapse

Kia pivoted to EVs fast and early because they can’t make a ICE power plant that doesn’t catch on fire.

Gork@sopuli.xyz on 08 Aug 2025 02:33 next collapse

Why do they keep trying to sell us things to improve “my lifestyle.”

My lifestyle is pretty much work, then coming home to do errands, maybe video games. I don’t need tacky truck nuts or whatever they’re selling.

667@lemmy.radio on 08 Aug 2025 03:14 next collapse

Please think of the CEOs—they need a new yacht for when they’ve flown in on their G4 to the Hamptons and their summer yacht is in San Diego.

Olhonestjim@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 13:40 collapse

How are they gonna pay for all these child sex slaves?!

A_Union_of_Kobolds@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 03:25 collapse

I want one of those barebones trucks that don’t even have radios

thisbenzingring@lemmy.sdf.org on 08 Aug 2025 04:12 next collapse

no man, radio is a must.

but like the old 90s style replacement kind

misterdoctor@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 04:29 collapse
Mac@mander.xyz on 08 Aug 2025 05:07 collapse

You want a fleet vehicle.

A_Union_of_Kobolds@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 12:18 collapse

Ill take whatever I can find for a reasonable price that has a towing package and, ideally, zero fuckin computers but ill have to compromise there im sure

the_riviera_kid@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 02:35 next collapse

I remember a while ago when this started appearing in chargers and they tried to act like it was an accident.

just_another_person@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 03:15 next collapse

This is the defacto stance of advertising agencies doing horrible things.

“OOHHHH, You mean you DIDN’T want ads on your coffee maker or vibrator??? Our bad. This was a technical error we will fix immediately!”

morphballganon@mtgzone.com on 08 Aug 2025 05:22 next collapse

They don’t admit it’s a mistake, call it an error, or try to fix. They call it a feature.

Vote with wallet

phutatorius@lemmy.zip on 08 Aug 2025 08:42 collapse

It’s an “opportunity to see special offers.”

They’re aggressive parasites.

arrow74@lemmy.zip on 08 Aug 2025 12:49 collapse

Back at the office:

So it seems people don’t like ads on their vibrator which means they are viewing them. Let’s wait a couple of years for the anger to die down then do it again.

Keyboard@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 10:55 collapse

“Accident”

scottmeme@sh.itjust.works on 08 Aug 2025 02:36 next collapse

Stellantis will kill EVERY company they build vehicles for.

Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 02:37 next collapse

I’m not buying any car made after 2015 ever.

PattyMcB@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 03:38 next collapse

You and me? Same page

Mac@mander.xyz on 08 Aug 2025 04:58 collapse

You and me and them? Same page

Landless2029@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 05:10 next collapse

I’ve got a 2010s car and drive a rental in 2023. Really liked the new safety features but fuck all this scummy bullshit.

[deleted] on 08 Aug 2025 05:20 collapse

.

Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 05:21 next collapse

Stellantis is barely an American brand

Mpatch@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 09:53 collapse

Stellantis is leaving ram Chrysler dodge gona be on their own soon. They tarnished the brand to much to make it salvagble/profitable.

Back when covid drove the prices up. They didn’t have a logistics problem like the other manufacturers because they didn’t upgrade their lineup. They just re sold outdated models for way too much money. Hence, the ram classic. But now all the leases and financing terms are ending, and you have a customer base that won’t get shit all for trade in to upgrade to a new model/ used market. So over about a 3-4 year span of worth of customers aren’t in much of a possition to buy a new veichle.

slumberlust@lemmy.world on 09 Aug 2025 11:47 collapse

Unfortunately, they are all pillaging your data in the worst ways. The only solution is to not buy new.

mozillafoundation.org/…/its-official-cars-are-the…

darklamer@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 08 Aug 2025 02:37 next collapse

It’s kind of sweet that they write that you need at least RAM 1500 to get these ads in your truck, so that the solution simply is to install less RAM in your truck if you don’t want the ads. (I’ve never owned a truck so I don’t know how much RAM is normal, but 1500 sure sounds like a lot.)

PattyMcB@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 03:38 next collapse

Boo. Lol

[deleted] on 08 Aug 2025 04:11 next collapse

.

onslaught545@lemmy.zip on 08 Aug 2025 04:25 collapse

They were joking.

[deleted] on 08 Aug 2025 04:32 next collapse

.

Deckname_JM@piefed.social on 08 Aug 2025 06:16 collapse

Found the truck owner

[deleted] on 08 Aug 2025 06:37 collapse

.

aeternum@lemmy.blahaj.zone on 08 Aug 2025 07:23 next collapse

why so hostile?

felbane@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 07:58 collapse

They already answered that.

[deleted] on 08 Aug 2025 08:50 collapse

.

idiomaddict@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 07:59 collapse

cool, didn’t ask.

HiTekRedNek@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 08:45 collapse

So were they.

[deleted] on 08 Aug 2025 05:18 collapse

.

aramis87@fedia.io on 08 Aug 2025 02:42 next collapse

Okay, cool. Hey, I'm now taking bets on how long until someone uses the ads to inject malware into a car or truck ...

PattyMcB@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 03:37 collapse

Unless it’s a tesla, it probably wouldn’t do much aside from bricking your entertainment and navigation

pastermil@sh.itjust.works on 08 Aug 2025 03:44 next collapse

You’d still be able to hijack the GPS and the mic, making it a perfect tool for abusive spouse!

zlatko@programming.dev on 08 Aug 2025 06:47 collapse

“abusive spouse” funny way to spell "government and “techbros”

pastermil@sh.itjust.works on 08 Aug 2025 07:46 collapse

potæto, potàto

ozymandias117@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 03:59 next collapse

One of their sister brands, Jeep, had a hack through the infotainment that let them control the CAN bus and disengage the transmission

wired.com/…/hackers-remotely-kill-jeep-highway/

PattyMcB@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 13:04 collapse

Good old Mopar…

ExcessShiv@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 08 Aug 2025 05:09 collapse

The entire motor controller of ICE vehicles is computer operated today and connected to the infotainment system, they could probably brick the engine too.

yoriaiko@lemmy.blahaj.zone on 08 Aug 2025 02:48 next collapse

“it’s an upgrade, it’s a feature!”, “no other car have so awesome ads like we do, buy our products!”, “step into the future now”, “now powered by awesome ai!”, “everyone wants that, You should too!”…

DonutsRMeh@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 02:50 next collapse

And not even a fucking “don’t show again” option. Either “call” or “remind me later”. So there is no escape. Either take the ad in the ass or it’ll show up again. Fuck that

fahfahfahfah@lemmy.billiam.net on 08 Aug 2025 03:46 next collapse

There is an X in the corner at least

KayLeadfoot@fedia.io on 08 Aug 2025 03:53 next collapse

That's the other "Remind me later" button

zlatko@programming.dev on 08 Aug 2025 06:54 collapse

Yeah, but I like the “two weeks” one better, it waits at least four days until the next popup. The other one, the lil X, waits like four minutes

GenosseFlosse@feddit.org on 08 Aug 2025 05:52 next collapse

Wow, that’s a good as getting raped but with a condom!

DonutsRMeh@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 11:37 next collapse

Pretty sure that X is as good as clicking “remind me later”.

Saik0Shinigami@lemmy.saik0.com on 08 Aug 2025 23:09 collapse

The X is for the syncing phone book notification… It’s not on the notice itself.

fahfahfahfah@lemmy.billiam.net on 09 Aug 2025 03:02 collapse

Oh you’re right, lol.

DocMcStuffin@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 04:32 collapse

Do you think Stellantis understands consent?

[ ] Yes
[ ] Ask me again in 2 weeks

DonutsRMeh@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 11:33 collapse

This genuinely stressed me out. 😂

PattyMcB@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 03:36 next collapse

Mopar going full idiot

obinice@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 03:56 next collapse

Good. I’ve seen those RAM vehicles, they’re all american “tiny penis wagons” as I like to call them. Ridiculously pointlessly gigantic vehicles, all the better for running down children and guzzling petrol.

The tossers who drive those don’t deserve good things.

Mac@mander.xyz on 08 Aug 2025 04:56 next collapse

We get it, you like to perpetuate toxic masculinity.

Hominine@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 08:24 collapse

Such delicious irony.

Sir_Kevin@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 08 Aug 2025 04:58 next collapse

I believe the Dodge Ram had the highest drunk driver rate for several years in a row (maybe still does). So yeah…

FireWire400@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 05:37 next collapse

I mean yeah but yeah nah. I’m all for blaming the meatbags who buy this shit for fun but there are still enough people who buy entry-level RAMs as work trucks (might even be a good choice for all I know).

Besides, if Stellantis is continuing to get away with it other brand might catch on… I can totally see VW or BMW pull this crap.

Mpatch@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 09:58 next collapse

Huh it’s funny my 2011 3500 ram 6.7l fully loaded bed get about the same if not better fuel economy as my 2023 toyota highlander with a 2.4l 4cylinder. I think you just formed your opinion without much experience of shit that goes on around you and are just regurgitating things you have read online.

Meissnerscorpsucle@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 13:30 collapse

I find it realy hard to tow 20,000 pounds of hay or horses with a ford edge, so I have a 2500 6.7 and drive it only when towing. just because people dont live the same lifestyle as you and need the same gear as you does not invalidate their needs.

veeesix@lemmy.ca on 08 Aug 2025 04:03 next collapse

Would upgrading to an aftermarket display system be capable of avoiding this?

onslaught545@lemmy.zip on 08 Aug 2025 04:27 next collapse

Yes, replacing the head unit would stop it.

Badabinski@kbin.earth on 08 Aug 2025 17:11 collapse

Is it even possible to replace the head units on deeply integrated cars like this?

sundray@lemmus.org on 08 Aug 2025 04:21 next collapse

“Well, you bought a Dodge Ram, so we know you’re gullible as hell. Now to let the advertisers have their way with you.”

SpoonyBard@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 04:26 next collapse

Eventually someone is going to get the idea that hospitals should start installing chips and screens into the skin of newborns and it either displays ads or it only cost $150k to have it removed. Thanks for having your baby at our hospital. The ads help pay for our CEO’s 4th mansion.

funkyfarmington@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 05:54 collapse

Your dreams DON’T have advertisements?

jjjalljs@ttrpg.network on 08 Aug 2025 04:42 next collapse

Feel like ads in cars should be illegal, but the US doesn’t have a government that believes in good things.

zewm@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 04:43 next collapse

If it’s like the other cars with this same shit then it only plays when fully stopped.

darkmarx@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 04:54 next collapse

And that somehow makes it better?

zewm@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 04:55 next collapse

I never said it was an improvement.

clay_pidgin@sh.itjust.works on 08 Aug 2025 06:26 next collapse

Absolutely?

Monument@lemmy.sdf.org on 08 Aug 2025 12:56 collapse

Absolutely fucking not.

My attention is not free and they have no fucking right to my attention.

And second, fuck them for thinking they do.

clay_pidgin@sh.itjust.works on 08 Aug 2025 14:56 collapse

It’s obviously better not to show ads while you’re driving. How could anyone think otherwise?

The question was if it is better to show ads only when the car is stopped. Your answer is for a different question: should it show ads at all. Being angry at me isn’t going to make Dodge stop this stupid idea.

Monument@lemmy.sdf.org on 08 Aug 2025 15:58 collapse

I’m not mad at you at all. I’m mad at the motherfuckers who think they have a right to my attention.

But to respond - it’s not better, because either option is detestable. I reject both.

You correctly called it that we’re answering different questions. I reject the question you’re answering, because I do not accept advertisements in my vehicle, that I own, as a foregone conclusion. You accidentally’d a step in accepting their bullshit.

I literally would rather threaten legal action, or show up outside their advertising executive’s house with a megaphone to try to sell them some scammy bullshit while they expect privacy. Maybe I’d even read off the advertising I get on the console. (Not that I’d ever buy a RAM truck, but still.)

New Business Idea: Buy unzoned property that can be used to block scenic overlooks around the homes of scummy advertising executives. Put up billboards.

clay_pidgin@sh.itjust.works on 08 Aug 2025 16:00 collapse

I’d invest in that.

k0e3@lemmy.ca on 08 Aug 2025 07:14 collapse

Better, as in less bad, but not good.

A7thStone@lemmy.world on 09 Aug 2025 20:20 collapse

Which will result in even more people not coming to a complete stop if they think they can get away with it, and that will result in more accidents.

Professorozone@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 10:03 collapse

That’s not true. Our government cares about something. They care about ads.

jmankman@lemmy.myserv.one on 08 Aug 2025 17:24 collapse

And that’s a good thing?

Professorozone@lemmy.world on 09 Aug 2025 00:17 collapse

You serious?

jmankman@lemmy.myserv.one on 13 Aug 2025 17:43 collapse

I’m not the one who implied that caring about ads is a good, thing, you are.

Professorozone@lemmy.world on 15 Aug 2025 00:47 collapse

Again… You serious?

Mac@mander.xyz on 08 Aug 2025 04:55 next collapse

What did poeple expect when they started putting billboards in cars? I’ve been against this shit from the start.

darkmogool@feddit.org on 08 Aug 2025 05:36 next collapse

Time to hack / root cars…

Noerttipertti@sopuli.xyz on 08 Aug 2025 09:21 collapse

“You wouldn’t download a car (firmware)”. Hold my beer…

funkyfarmington@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 05:53 next collapse

Here I am extremely pissed at the people who made it where my dogs trigger fasten seatbelt beeps in a old Tacoma.

ayyy@sh.itjust.works on 08 Aug 2025 06:30 collapse

You don’t have a car harness for your dog? Even if you don’t give a shit about your dog dying (I know you do) you should at least be worried about the 50lbs dumbbell flying around the cabin in your next crash.

cyberpunk007@lemmy.ca on 08 Aug 2025 06:44 collapse

What? This is a thing?

aeternum@lemmy.blahaj.zone on 08 Aug 2025 07:25 collapse

harnesses? yes, definitely a thing. has been for a while

ayyy@sh.itjust.works on 08 Aug 2025 06:28 next collapse

Have you ever seen a smart person driving a DUI1500?

KayLeadfoot@fedia.io on 08 Aug 2025 10:22 next collapse

The Ram 1500 is the official car of "more than one, but not so many they take your license away" -- both DUIs and beers before going to work.

Glitterbomb@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 11:31 collapse

Imagine getting a bud light ad while you’re blowing into your ignition interlock device

pinball_wizard@lemmy.zip on 08 Aug 2025 13:28 collapse

That’s perfect timing, since in a moment the car will be started, and they can resume drinking…

CocaineShrimp@sh.itjust.works on 08 Aug 2025 06:50 next collapse

This is why I’m not going to buy RAM / Dodge / Chrysler/ Jeep / anything Stellantis owns, and this is why I’m not buying any new car with “smart” / “built-in” junk.

I don’t know of any car that has an actually good head unit. Its either garbage because its a giant touch screen, making it super difficult to navigate without looking (that’s why all the controls in an airplane are different shapes and sizes), or its just a hub for you to run Android Auto / apples equivalent.

Now ads? Ffs…

magic_smoke@lemmy.blahaj.zone on 08 Aug 2025 08:29 next collapse

My Honda civic 2012’s head unit firmware isn’t that bad.

It tells your input source, volume, if your trunk is open, if your tires are fucked, and includes a hookup for a backup camera that only made it into other models, making it ezpz to retrofit.

Could be a lot worse. Wouldn’t touch a modern one with a ten foot pole lmao.

krimson@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 11:36 collapse

“Front left tyre is fucked.” “Your fucking trunk is open.”

Now that I would not mind having shown when starting the car.

magic_smoke@lemmy.blahaj.zone on 08 Aug 2025 12:44 collapse

Actually the bastard won’t tell you what specific tire. Just that one of them has low air pressure.

Kind of a dick move since there’s no way the computer can’t tell which tire it is when they’re four separate sensors.

dankm@lemmy.ca on 12 Aug 2025 15:23 collapse

Mine will tell me the measured pressures of all tires. But only if at least one is low. I haven’t found a way to get it to just tell me the pressure in any tire if it’s not throwing an error at me.

Dear Mazda, you have a full user interface in your vehicle. Why can’t you let me see the tire pressure from just a menu option?

Trainguyrom@reddthat.com on 08 Aug 2025 13:45 collapse

I’ve just been thoroughly unimpressed by all of the American car brands. Crap vehicles with lousy interiors the lot of them.

Zink@programming.dev on 08 Aug 2025 07:06 next collapse

To me this looks like something potentially worse than just an ad. It looks like this text might be configurable by the dealership. I wonder if all of that gets screened and approved by people that work for the carmaker. Otherwise we will eventually see some funny stuff show up in people’s trucks.

devilish666@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 07:42 next collapse

Is there a custom firmware to counter this? And is there a way to inject custom firmware into it?
It’s very strange that no one has created a custom firmware to counter this.

Lifter@discuss.tchncs.de on 08 Aug 2025 09:31 next collapse

The problem with that is that insurance companies would gladly interpret that as tampering of the vehicle, voiding your insurance and which will really fuck you up in case of an accident.

enumerator4829@sh.itjust.works on 08 Aug 2025 09:54 next collapse

I don’t think there is much overlap between the sets of people

  • buying these cars
  • having the competence to hack them
  • having the willingness and finances to potentially brick the car
q@piefed.social on 08 Aug 2025 11:06 collapse

The difference with vehicles vs computers is everything is so god damn expensive and/or hard to fix. So it will never be worth the risk of failure because I need it to function for emergencies, work and life. RAM wins this round unfortunately and I guess I just have to deal with it for now.

RunawayFixer@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 07:47 next collapse

Apart from how insane it is to put obtrusive ads on a car dashboard, having to link your phone to your car and then call a phone number to opt out of touchscreen display ads is 🤯

There is going to be a reason that they’ve set it up like that.

Sabata11792@ani.social on 08 Aug 2025 12:34 next collapse

At that point, I would opt out with a hammer.

frostysauce@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 13:24 next collapse

It wasn’t asking them to pair their phone to call the number to opt out, it was asking them to pair their phone so they could call the number to buy parts for their truck. You’d have to manually dial the number to opt out.

RunawayFixer@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 13:37 collapse

When calling that number, the caller will need somekind of proof that they are in control of the car that they are trying to opt out of ads. Afaik, the easiest way to accomplish that when requiring a phonecall, would be pairing phone and car. But obviously Stellantis is not going for easy with this setup, so this is purely speculation on my part.

pinball_wizard@lemmy.zip on 08 Aug 2025 13:26 collapse

Someday in a few years there will be an accident in the opt out service that routes 95% of attempts into a 500 error screen. All they have to do is underpay and never check on the server admin for that service for years until they don’t care.

phutatorius@lemmy.zip on 08 Aug 2025 08:38 next collapse

Driver distraction is a leading cause of accidents, including fatal ones. This is a total dealbreaker, should be illegal, and should result in Chrysler getting sued into nonexistence.

MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip on 08 Aug 2025 08:39 next collapse

How is this street legal? Can’t use your phone but can have popup ads?

Hozerkiller@lemmy.ca on 08 Aug 2025 11:20 next collapse

Oh no don’t worry it’s fine cause it’s only at start up. If we just keep moving the bar of what is acceptable everything is fine.

OldChicoAle@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 12:44 next collapse

It’s okay cuz it makes some rich guy money

TachyonTele@piefed.social on 08 Aug 2025 14:10 collapse

I'm concerned it's not making that person enough money.

kalpol@lemmy.ca on 08 Aug 2025 23:22 next collapse

It is so bad. The passenger can’t even fix the nav, at least not in the Chevy I just rented.

freebee@sh.itjust.works on 09 Aug 2025 14:39 collapse

This vehicle shouldn’t be street legal for regular folk based on its shape and height, software is just a minor detail.

nibble4bits@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 08 Aug 2025 09:40 next collapse

Wake up sheeple!

q@piefed.social on 08 Aug 2025 10:54 next collapse

2022 model and about every three months I'll get one for Sirius XM or something related to that. It's only when the vehicle starts up and initializes. Its annoying but Ive been on the Internet since the late 90's, my ability to practice the 5 D's: dip, dodge, duck, dive and dodge for popups is muscle memory.

RedPostItNote@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 11:31 next collapse

You dodge twice?

warbond@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 11:38 next collapse

Are you kidding? Always dodge twice!

RedPostItNote@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 14:08 collapse

I… will. Thanks!

q@piefed.social on 08 Aug 2025 12:08 collapse

For reference, for anyone who isn't familiar with the 2004 movie Dodgeball.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peUyLXrgYZ0

EchoCranium@lemmy.zip on 08 Aug 2025 12:23 collapse

If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball.

Yerbouti@sh.itjust.works on 08 Aug 2025 13:58 collapse

I’ve been on the internet since the same time and the ability that I developp is to install blockers for all that shit. No car will make watch ads, I’de rather walk.

q@piefed.social on 08 Aug 2025 16:52 collapse

I agree but it's not always black and white. It's a pop up every once in a while that I click an x on and move in with my life.

I'm not defending it, but I'm also not loading a new OS on my truck or spending time working on changing it. I obviously hate the popup and don't want it but it's been 3 years, its just something I have to do and move on with life in 2 seconds every few months.

thedruid@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 11:27 next collapse

Never buy a new car

OH. And espn thought of this in 2011

UsefulInfoPlz@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 12:22 next collapse

My 2025 ram has never done this… not saying it won’t ever but… we’ve heard the same stories about all the manufacturers.

dropped_packet@lemmy.zip on 08 Aug 2025 13:45 collapse

2024 Ford, you can disable all the remote connectivity in the head unit. If you don’t trust that disable it in firmware with an ODB cable and some pirated software.

Modern problems require modern solutions

UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 14:21 collapse

I mean, it works until it doesn’t. I’m trying to imagine sitting on a six-figure car note, trying to DIY a solution for the annoying pop-up you can’t manually disable, and accidentally bricking your car.

dropped_packet@lemmy.zip on 08 Aug 2025 14:34 collapse

Seems pretty stupid to drop six-figures on a utility vehicle

Remote connectivity can be disabled in the head unit using the normal interfaces. If you aren’t comfortable modifying your vehicle you don’t have to.

If you want to go the extra mile. Deactivate the radios in firmware.

restingboredface@sh.itjust.works on 08 Aug 2025 12:47 next collapse

GM was talking pretty publicly about doing this a couple years ago and there was a mild dust up over it. They also mentioned enthusiasm over the potential revenue to come from mining and selling driver data (which got them sued) . Last I heard about it was late 2023 or early 2024, so it seems their new data team.has been busy.

Don kid yourselves though, if GM is doing it, everyone else is or will be.

TranscendentalEmpire@lemmy.today on 08 Aug 2025 14:04 collapse

The field that marketing companies truly excel at the most is advertising their own services. Researching the effectiveness of advertising is difficult because most of the information is presented by the marketing companies themselves. However, most scientific studies agree that advertising through environmental means is ineffective and sometimes can even be harmful to brands.

Marketing usually aims to take advantage of impulsive purchasing behaviour by inundating the potential purchasers environment with advertisement. However, this isn’t very effective, most people automatically filter these kinds of ads, or worse are actively annoyed by them. Effective advertising activates the buyers impulsive behavior by engaging with them emotionally, which is why ad space for podcasts and other types of para social relationships are more effective.

I’d say the vast majority of data scraped from personal devices are utilized as tools to market the idea of advertisement to vendors more than they are used to actually market products. Imo marketing is useless for most types of businesses, and is mostly a field of self perpetuating scam artist.

cynar@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 15:06 next collapse

Apparently it’s mostly about familiarity. Even if we are annoyed at the time, we will often forget about it completely between then and shopping. By the time we are in the shop, we just have a vague sense of familiarity with the product. We instinctively buy the more familiar, as the “safer” option. It takes conscious effort to overcome this (which most people don’t have to spare).

In saturated markets, this leads to a zero sum situation. Every customer you get is stolen from a competitor. Apparently the tobacco companies actually loved the UK ban on tobacco advertising. Their ads were intended to counter the ads of their competitors. None of them were roping in new smokers at a high enough rate to matter. The only ones winning were the ad agencies.

TranscendentalEmpire@lemmy.today on 08 Aug 2025 18:28 collapse

we just have a vague sense of familiarity with the product. We instinctively buy the more familiar, as the “safer” option. It takes conscious effort to overcome this (which most people don’t have to spare).

Sounds like a perfect pitch to sell more ads. Like I said, I would hesitate to actually trust any statistical analysis of the effectiveness of advertising done by the same people wanting to sell more ads.

In a capitalist economy there’s just not a real motivation for researching advertising unless you are a marketing agency. So the vast majority of information is intrinsically biased.

cynar@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 18:39 collapse

I think it’s more that if you stop advertising, you start seeing a significant drop in sales. It’s an easy experiment to test.

The dark art is increasing sales via advertising. That’s where the marketing people pull off the real bullshit.

SocialMediaRefugee@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 19:09 collapse

I agree that it seems most marketing firms are seemingly scamming businesses at this point. The internet is so saturated with absolute garbage ads that anyone buying ads must be expecting $0.001 return on the ad dollar.

Retro_unlimited@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 12:58 next collapse

I would raise such hell at the dealership if anything like this happened to me.

But I prefer my cars with NO INTERNET, no touch screens, and very low tech (easier to fix).

UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 14:19 collapse

I would raise such hell at the dealership if anything like this happened to me.

“Oh sure, bring the car back in. We can have our technician look at it. Just need a $200 deposit and $80/hr for labor.”

some_kind_of_guy@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 21:02 collapse

Live footage of bringing the car in:

<img alt="Guy drives car into dealership" src="https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/6fdffb24-a7b6-4e28-ac66-547aa255f922.gif">

ripcord@lemmy.world on 09 Aug 2025 00:13 collapse

One day the official Lemmy client for mobile will support animated pictures and that won’t just look like a car parked outside a building.

Treczoks@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 13:35 next collapse

Scammy ads for scammy people driving scammy cars.

UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 14:17 next collapse

They’re the first victims of what will inevitably be rolled out to every new vehicle.

canajac@lemmy.ca on 08 Aug 2025 16:24 collapse

I own a 2016 RAM…and love it. Oh and Fuck you.

Treczoks@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 17:36 collapse

So you are part of the problem.

Suavevillain@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 13:38 next collapse

This is just terrible. Every aspect of life doesn’t need ads. I don’t care if it makes a company money or not.

MattTheProgrammer@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 16:37 collapse

Welcome to the second-to-last stage of capitalism.

BadlyTimedLuck@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 13:40 next collapse

Everyday, I wanna ram my car into a building and hope I run over the CEO in their office.

Now the hardest part isn’t ditching and risking my way of life, but choosing which CEO to ram 🤬

Yerbouti@sh.itjust.works on 08 Aug 2025 13:54 next collapse

I hate pick-up trucks. I really do.

canajac@lemmy.ca on 08 Aug 2025 16:26 collapse

I love them.

KayLeadfoot@fedia.io on 09 Aug 2025 01:06 collapse
Salamanderwizard@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 15:08 next collapse

This is why my old shitty 2001 accord will always be best.

Kinperor@lemmy.ca on 08 Aug 2025 15:20 next collapse

I’m going to start pointing to this when I explain to people why I want “dumb” machines.

I don’t want AI to “summarize” my google search, I don’t want ads distracting drivers, I don’t want a washing machine that needs updates, I don’t want my TV to look at me, I want a submissive little machine that does task X.

InputZero@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 19:01 next collapse

Here’s an AI summary of your distain for AI:

I’ll begin saying this when people ask why I want “dumb” machines.

AI summaries lack quality, ads distract drivers, you want a washing machine without ads, you don’t want your TV to watch you, you want machines to be submissive.

How did I do?

INHALE_VEGETABLES@aussie.zone on 08 Aug 2025 23:47 collapse

You did well.

This message is grok generated and posted automatically, clank clank clank.

Pacattack57@lemmy.world on 09 Aug 2025 01:55 collapse

Ngl bro but I’ve found some good uses for AI. My kids school gave me 2 bullshit pdfs with duplicate information for their school supplies. I uploaded them to chatgbt and asked it to simplify it by combining duplicates and putting it in bullet format that was easily copy pastable. Did it in 30 seconds with minor tweaking and made my back to school shopping so much easier.

no_nothing@lemmy.world on 09 Aug 2025 11:44 next collapse

and what the fuck does that have to do with predatory companies cramming unneeded avenues of fucking predation into EVERYTHING?!

Curious_Canid@lemmy.ca on 11 Aug 2025 15:34 collapse

AI is not universally bad. There are some things it does well. The problem is that there are a lot more things it does badly, often in harmful ways, and most people using it have no idea how to tell the difference.

You seem to be using it the right way, with caution and awareness.

prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone on 08 Aug 2025 15:36 next collapse

Bill Burr calls it, “driving an iPad”

KayLeadfoot@fedia.io on 09 Aug 2025 01:03 collapse

It's Bill Burr's 21st century and we're all just living in it.

He's crushing it on Star Wars stuff, his comedy is on fucking fire, and weirdly he's one of a small axis of Americans (bad word choice lol) who has the backbone to resist our descent into fascism. I agree with him and I fuckin hate it, bring back buttons, I don't' want to drive an iPad.

canajac@lemmy.ca on 08 Aug 2025 16:30 next collapse

I call on all hackers to defeat this parasitic disease from incorporating our everyday lives only to make money for its creators. Ads are a fucking disease and needs to be contrroled from entering our lives without our permission.

Usernameblankface@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 19:02 next collapse

And take it one step further so that whoever wants to check on it will see the ads playing even though no ads are playing.

ThePrimitive@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 23:41 next collapse

I call on all Americans to start the revolution so we can treat the disease instead of the symptoms.

BigPotato@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 23:52 collapse

Stellantis is a Dutch group. If we head to Michigan and get the CEO, they’ll just appoint a new one… Unless you’re suggesting the Americans invade the Netherlands…

ThePrimitive@lemmy.world on 09 Aug 2025 00:46 next collapse

I mean tear down and replace this government so the balance of power shifts back to the people and we can bring the corporations to heel.

Eh_I@lemmy.world on 09 Aug 2025 01:18 collapse

🤘🤘🤘🤘

GaMEChld@lemmy.world on 09 Aug 2025 01:50 collapse

I call on all consumers to buy used old vehicles that don’t do shit like this.

MattTheProgrammer@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 16:36 next collapse

That website isn’t one to judge. I opened it up and there’s huge ad overlay immediately lol.

ripcord@lemmy.world on 09 Aug 2025 00:09 next collapse

No adblock…?

KayLeadfoot@fedia.io on 09 Aug 2025 01:01 collapse

That's how I pay server costs :)

Feel free to use ad block, doesn't hurt my feelings one bit. AdBlock Plus is still good. I'm shocked to meet a programmer who doesn't already block ads TBH!

Bennyboybumberchums@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 17:43 next collapse

Hasnt Jeep being doing this since at least last year? Every time you stop at a light or whatever you get an ad for Sirus radio.

jj4211@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 2025 19:20 next collapse

Stellantis doing Stellantis things…

It’s remarkable that anyone buys Dodge/Ram/Chrysler/Jeep given how crappy Stellantis has been.

nao@sh.itjust.works on 08 Aug 2025 21:14 next collapse

It’s an ad to call a phone number, are people buying things on the phone like this?

Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works on 08 Aug 2025 23:56 collapse

If someone were, it’s someone getting the latest model Ram.

KayLeadfoot@fedia.io on 09 Aug 2025 00:57 collapse

The odds of a Ram 1500 driver drunk-dialling the number on the popup ad blocking their backup cam is low... but never zero!

humorlessrepost@lemmy.world on 09 Aug 2025 02:13 collapse

You just tap the “call” button, you do t type the number.

Still dumb, though.

favoredponcho@lemmy.zip on 08 Aug 2025 22:20 next collapse

Remind me later.

betanumerus@lemmy.ca on 09 Aug 2025 00:22 next collapse

If they can in a crash, they can blame it on the advertisers’ distraction. Insurers will love that.

Lemminary@lemmy.world on 09 Aug 2025 01:13 next collapse

Capitalism will innovate!

Capitalism:

hark@lemmy.world on 09 Aug 2025 02:10 next collapse

This is why the argument that paying for something would prevent ads falls apart. If they can squeeze more money out of people then they will, even if those people are paying $80k+ for the damn thing.

Auli@lemmy.ca on 09 Aug 2025 11:51 collapse

Yes I hate that argument and it’s not true. Cars are collecting tons of data and we pay for them, people “pay” for Windows one way or another and it’s collecting data.

RedTie13@lemmy.world on 09 Aug 2025 03:43 next collapse

Time to go get a Kei Truck and put an Android tablet in it.

KayLeadfoot@fedia.io on 09 Aug 2025 05:21 next collapse

Kei Kei's delivery service.

I sometimes feel shortchanged as an American (no healthcare, FUUUUCK), but I only get real mad about it when I think about how we don't get Hiluxes and Kei trucks.

Bluewing@lemmy.world on 09 Aug 2025 12:19 collapse

Order a Slate pickup. Buy what you want and only what you want. And add things later as you want or buy that tablet from amazon and a bluetooth speaker and install it yourself.

deathbird@mander.xyz on 09 Aug 2025 04:09 next collapse

Real question is what cable or fuse can I pull to disable this?

Bitch all you want about RAM drivers, but this is coming to all cars. Start resisting now.

Auli@lemmy.ca on 09 Aug 2025 11:50 collapse

Would be the modem. I already do this because of the tracking.

deathbird@mander.xyz on 10 Aug 2025 02:50 collapse

Yes, but where is it, to disconnect?

kolorafa@lemmy.world on 09 Aug 2025 10:08 next collapse

I think all people that see that ads need to pickup a phone and call them asking stupid questions and waste their time, they clearly ask you to do that.

Jerb322@lemmy.world on 09 Aug 2025 11:18 next collapse

Looked at my car radio the other day to see the name of the song playing. Evidently, it was called " injured, get ‘xxxx’ lawyer."

arc99@lemmy.world on 09 Aug 2025 11:37 next collapse

I don’t live in the US but the last time I rented a car there the UI was festooned with functionality for Sirius XM that couldn’t be removed or hidden. Not small icons, but big fucking chunks of the screen. I find this kind of thing intolerable. It’s one thing to plug a service but if people don’t want it, then hide it away and don’t nag them about it ever again.

Auli@lemmy.ca on 09 Aug 2025 11:49 collapse

I’ve driven many makes of vehicles and never seen this. Sure the buttons are there but just like the AM)FM. Or you don’t want them their at all it’s just an audio source and purchase a vehicle without satellite radio they still exist.

Bluewing@lemmy.world on 09 Aug 2025 12:17 next collapse

I think the issues is that you can’t pick and choose exactly what you want in your new vehicle. You can’t say, get just a simple AM/FM radio and get bluetooth. You buy a package of accessories.

So if you want just that simple radio, not only don’t you get the bluetooth, but you have to give up the power seats and windows too. It’s an all or nothing choice.

There was a time you would order your new car with individual accessories and then a couple of months to get it. I’m pulling for Slate to be successful and bring that freedom of choice back.

arc99@lemmy.world on 09 Aug 2025 15:42 collapse

I think the issues is that you can’t pick and choose exactly what you want in your new vehicle. You can’t say, get just a simple AM/FM radio and get bluetooth. You buy a package of accessories.

This was a Toyota RAV 4 IIRC and despite the vehicle having no subscription to this thing, it occupied the right hand side of the infotainment system and was prominent in the menus too. I had the car for nearly a month and I played around in the settings but saw no way of getting rid of it.

Auli@lemmy.ca on 09 Aug 2025 11:56 next collapse

So now this is an ad? But when Apple does similar it’s just letting you know about services offered. I consider both an ad.

melsaskca@lemmy.ca on 09 Aug 2025 12:03 next collapse

When did ads become the one commodity to rule them all. They are used more like a threat rather than information. You have to pay to see them or pay to make them go away. Doesn’t make sense. Have adverts replaced gold as the dollar standard? Weird. I guess they are good for money laundering due to the subjective nature of costs for “production”, “design” and “talent”.

BD89@lemmy.sdf.org on 11 Aug 2025 17:00 collapse

Well don’t worry your brand new Dodge will last about 5-7 years max. So you won’t be seeing those ads too long.

They’re truly horrible horrible machines. GMC is about the only American brand worth anything and even they suck now.

Honda and Toyota is the way to go anything else and you’re just wasting money.

Sucks they don’t have super duty trucks for people that need those like hot shotters though.

KayLeadfoot@fedia.io on 12 Aug 2025 17:03 collapse

As a Toyota truck owner, can confirm.