A demand for $150 is costing Volkswagen a lot more than that as it tries to make amends for a representative's refusal to help police locate a stolen vehicle with a toddler inside.
The automaker is making its Car-Net connected vehicle emergency services free on most 2020 and newer vehicles for five years. When police in suburban Chicago contacted Car-Net for help after a Feb. 23 carjacking, the request was denied because the trial period on the 2021 VW Atlas had expired.
The missing 2-year-old was found unharmed before the officer was able to arrange for one of the vehicle owner's relatives to pay the $150 fee to reactivate Car-Net. VW apologized as the story made headlines across the country.