Stellantis announced this week that it is folding remote engine start and stop into the standard, no-cost Connect One package for most 2027 model year Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, FIAT and Alfa Romeo vehicles sold in the United States. At the same time, it is trimming the price of its optional Connect Wi-Fi Plus package to $15.99 a month, a $2 reduction, with a three-month free trial for buyers who sign up within 30 days of purchase. A Free Feature With a Strategic Purpose Connect One already provided a decade of remote lock and unlock, over-the-air software updates, monthly vehicle health reports, recall alerts, service scheduling and automatic crash notifications at no extra charge. Adding remote start to that free tier is a notable shift: it takes one of the most requested connected-car features and removes the paywall entirely, rather than reserving it for a premium add-on. “Our customers told us they value connected services that matter in real life, and remote start is exactly that,” said Ricardo Stamatti, head of the Stellantis software business unit. “On a cold Minnesota morning or a hot Texas afternoon, being able to warm up or cool down your vehicle from your phone is not a gimmick; it is technology showing up when people need it.” The remaining paid tier, Connect Wi-Fi Plus, still carries the features aimed at habitual use rather than emergencies: an unlimited-data hotspot for up to eight devices, remote horn and light activation, stolen vehicle assistance, and a suite of connected navigation tools including last-mile routing, parking and fuel finders, and speed camera alerts. The move lands at a moment when automakers across the industry are recalibrating how they price connectivity. Consumer willingness to pay for connected car services has softened sharply industry-wide: S&P Global Mobility’s 2025 Connected Car Study