Poll: Will you be paying for the Mazda app?

[Ranman57]

I did a poll last week on the CX-5 sub to see if folks were going to pay for the app once their trial expires.

Out of 83 responses 74% said no, 12% said yes and 13% had or are were planning to put in their own remote start.

I thought I'd try it again over here just to see what happens. I'm betting on a pretty similar result.

 

[jadmt]

I have about 26000 miles on my 2023 cx5 and I think I might have used the remote start feature 3X's. nothing in the app i really use and certainly not anything I feel is worth paying for.

 

[RedBaron]

I don't have the app on our 2019 CX-5, but I do on the 2023 CX-50. Hell no! I will not pay for it, and I've already installed remote starters on both cars.

 

[N7turbo]

I won't. I just unsubscribed my car from the app, and will request the TCU disable soon. Not too happy with how Mazda is collecting and sharing driving telematics data with third parties.

 

[Cohappy]

I won't. I just unsubscribed my car from the app, and will request the TCU disable soon. Not too happy with how Mazda is collecting and sharing driving telematics data with third parties.

Same for me

 

[RedBaron]

I don't have the app on our 2019 CX-5, but I do on the 2023 CX-50. Hell no! I will not pay for it, and I've already installed remote starters on both cars.

I was just reminded of this by the recent "Auto Door Lock Glitch?" thread. A great side effect (feature) of the Fortin remote starters I installed on my cars, is that they come with an embedded car alarm feature. You only have to connect a wire to your car's horn button.

US Mazda's do not have a car alarm from the factory.

Post in thread 'Just Installed Fortin Remote Start on my new 2016 Mazda CX-5 DIY'

Jan 26, 2020

OK, I installed my Evo-One last week, and after a couple of false starts (and a call to a grumpy tech at Fortin) I successfully enabled the car alarm functionality in the Evo-One. So now my US CX-5 does have a working car alarm - no thanks to Mazda USA. I know that folks will say that such alarms are useless, but given you get the functionality for free in the Evo, why not?

So, for those playing along at home, here's some tips on how to do this when you install your Evo on a 2nd gen CX-5. NOTE: this is how I did MY install on MY 2019 CX-5 Touring. I take no responsibility...

• RedBaron

• 

 

[7eregrine]

US Mazda's do not have a car alarm from the factory.

Because they don't need one. Mazda's don't get stolen.

 

[Mach1tosh]

I read the reviews of the app. The first 3 were all positive and I suspect they were moved to the top as further down there are a lot of 1 star reviews that deterred me from even considering downloading it in the first place.

 

[N7turbo]

I read the reviews of the app. The first 3 were all positive and I suspect they were moved to the top as further down there are a lot of 1 star reviews that deterred me from even considering downloading it in the first place.

The app itself is fine.

 

[elementCX5]

I have about 26000 miles on my 2023 cx5 and I think I might have used the remote start feature 3X's. nothing in the app i really use and certainly not anything I feel is worth paying for.

This feature would be more useful if it didn't shut the car off when you open the door. Would be even MORE useful if it was a button on the key fob. I've only used this once at the dealer before driving off the lot, then never again because of how poorly implemented the remote start feature is.
I do like that the app will tell you when you left a door unlocked, and being able to remotely lock the car. I don't think this is a feature worth paying for at all though.

 

[vrsick]

Would I pay? no way! I find it an inconvenience that the car shuts off when the door is opened. Let alone that they can track you at all times. I do plan on getting my own remote start. I'm in no rush right now.

 

[N7turbo]

This may be where some of the controversy comes from. When you first enroll a car and are presented with the TOS, one of the items is "Drive Insure" (note, not "Ensure", a hint at what's next).



This is offered through https://connectedanalyticservices.com/

Who "...is a consumer reporting agency and data aggregator dedicated to empowering drivers and contributing to the transformation of the insurance industry.

We are committed to developing new and exciting ways to leverage data in order to cultivate greater customer satisfaction, refine the insurance pricing process, and help create safer driving conditions."

The TOS goes on to state:

CAS will then share only anonymized location & driving data with their partnered insurance providers to determine if you qualify for insurance products and services that could result in savings to you. TIMS may contact you electronically about your eligibility or to share these offers. Unavailable in select states.

Data Shared (between Mazda and CAS):

Customer
Name
Address
Phone Number
Email Address


Vehicle
Vehicle Identification Number(VIN)
Vehicle Make
Vehicle Model
Model Year
Odometer


Driving
Driving events
Fast Acceleration
Harsh Braking
Harsh Cornering


Location
Location of Vehicle
Trips

On the face of it, they are using your data to provide insurance offers, in an anonymized way. It doesn't sound nefarious because the insurance carrier can't identify the driver. CAS and Mazda would then have to be the gatekeepers of the data that identifies your car. Thoughts on this insurance business?

 

[N7turbo]

I wanted to share this for informational purposes for those who don't have the app in front of them.

Aside from the insurance offers, they also, on their own, automatically (without needing the app) collect driving data for business purposes.

AUTOMATIC COLLECTION, USE, AND SHARING OF DEFAULT DATA​

All of our Connected Vehicles contain an in-vehicle Telematics Control Unit (TCU), which is activated on or before the Connected Vehicle’s delivery to a Mazda Dealer, and allows us to collect and transmit certain Default Data from the Connected Vehicle. The Default Data is generated within the Connected Vehicle, collected by either the TCU or other in-vehicle system (excluding the Electronic Data Recorder (EDR)), and transmitted to us via the TCU.

“Default Data” includes the following:

• “Driving Data”: driving behavior data, which includes the acceleration and speed at which your Connected Vehicle is driven and use of the steering and braking functions in your Connected Vehicle (Driving Data is collected for each driving trip and transmitted at each Ignition Off); and
• “Vehicle Health Data”: includes Vehicle Identification Number (VIN); odometer, fuel level, and oil life readings; Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs); and data from the Connected Vehicle’s OBD system (“OBD Data”). OBD Data includes, but is not limited to, engine coolant temperature, fuel injection volume, engine Rotation Per Minute (RPM), and the status of doors, hood, trunk, and hazard lights (Vehicle Health Data is transmitted at each Ignition-Off).

How We Use and Share Default Data

We share the Default Data with you; our parent company, Mazda Motor Corporation, and our affiliates (collectively, the “Mazda Family of Companies”); and/or our third-party service providers for the purposes listed below. Without your prior consent, we do not let our third-party service providers use Default Data of your vehicle for their own commercial business purposes. Default Data is used for the following business purposes:

• analysis of safety concerns and issuance of product recalls;
• analysis of product trends;
• product quality analysis;
• product research and development;
• product improvements, for safety reasons or otherwise; and
• providing you with Mazda Connected Services, functionality updates or repair services, if applicable.

Additionally, for legal, educational or safety reasons we may share the Default Data as follows:

• with law enforcement, courts, administrative bodies, or governments (“Enforcement Entities”) as may be required by applicable law; by legal process; in response to government investigations; for national security purposes; or where we have a good faith belief that disclosure of the Default Data is required by law or legal process. We may also share the Default Data with Enforcement Entities where we have a good faith belief it is necessary to do so to prevent harm, injury, or loss, and we may use the Default Data as reasonably necessary to pursue or defend legal actions; and
• with third parties (e.g. consumer research groups or academic institutions) for educational or research purposes in an anonymized and aggregated format.

MAZDA CONNECTED SERVICES​

Collection and Use of Default Data

To provide you with the Mazda Connected Services, we use the Default Data that we automatically collect from your Connected Vehicle.

If you are an active subscriber to Mazda Connected Services, in addition to us using the Default Data and Location Data for our own business purposes (e.g. support safety, research, analysis, and product development activities by our parent company, Mazda Motor Corporation, and our affiliates or compliance with Enforcement Entities), we may also use the Default Data and Location Data as follows to provide you with available connected functionality:

• Location Data: Geo-location coordinates of your Connected Vehicle’s latitude and longitude are collected each time you turn off your Connected Vehicle (“Ignition-Off”). We use your Location Data to provide you with Vehicle Finder, which allows you to use the MyMazda App to view the geo-location coordinates of your Connected Vehicle’s position at last Ignition-Off.
• Driving Data and Vehicle Health Data: We may use both your Driving Data and Vehicle Health Data to provide you with the real-time status information of your Connected Vehicle, including the status of doors, hood, trunk, and hazard lights. You can remotely view the real-time status of your Connected Vehicle at any time using the MyMazda App.
• Vehicle Health Data: We may use your Vehicle Health Data to provide you with notifications via the MyMazda App when your Connected Vehicle is due for maintenance or service (“Maintenance Notification”), or when your Connected Vehicle reports a malfunction-related event (“Malfunction Notification”).

We may share your Personal Information with:

• Our Mazda Family of Companies: to support safety, research, analysis, and product development activities by our parent company, Mazda Motor Corporation, and our affiliates.
• Our dealers: to inform you of offers and facilitate service from your designated Preferred Dealer. You are required to select one Preferred Dealer in the MyMazda App, but we will only share your Personal Information with your selected Preferred Dealer if you haven’t disabled this function in your MyMazda account settings.
• Third-party service providers: We may share your Personal Information with third-party service providers that we contract with to provide you with the Mazda Connected Services, as detailed in this Connectivity Privacy Statement.
• Enforcement Entities: we do not share your Personal Information with Enforcement Entities unless we are required to do so by applicable law; legal process; in response to government investigations; as may be required for national security; or where we have a good faith belief that disclosure of your Personal Information is required by law or legal process. We may also share your Personal Information with Enforcement Entities where we have a good faith belief it is necessary to do so to prevent harm, injury, or loss, and we may use your Personal Information to pursue or defend legal actions, even if harm, injury, or loss has already occurred.
• Third Parties Who May Service You Directly: With your express prior written consent, we may disclose your Personal Information to third parties who market non-Mazda products you have indicated interest in receiving.
• Business Transfers: We may disclose any of the categories of PI that we collect in connection with a transfer, sale, or other transaction involving a change of ownership of our business assets.

Collection and Use of Personal Information

In addition to our automatic collection, use, sharing, and storing of Default Data, your choice to subscribe to Mazda Connected Services also requires our collection of certain information.

If you choose to subscribe to Mazda Connected Services, you will be prompted in your MyMazda account to provide certain required Personal Information, which may include, but is not limited to, the following:

• First and Last Name
• Email
• Phone Number
• Address
• VIN

And I found this...interesting:

Passengers and Drivers of Your Connected Vehicle

You are responsible to inform any passengers or other drivers of your Connected Vehicle that Default Data is collected and used by us and shared with third-parties as described in this Subscription Agreement and the Connectivity Privacy Policy.

So there is Default Data and then there is additional data collected and used by the app. Based on the data used by CAS, it looks like the insurance offers handled by CAS will require all of the above, which means you could unsubscribe from the app to disable that. However, if you wish to stop the collection of Default Data, which Mazda uses for the above stated purposes, you will need to contact Mazda to disable the TCU (Telematics Control Unit). That will be a personal decision for each user.

 

[7eregrine]

And I found this...interesting:

Passengers and Drivers of Your Connected Vehicle

You are responsible to inform any passengers or other drivers of your Connected Vehicle that Default Data is collected and used by us and shared with third-parties as described in this Subscription Agreement and the Connectivity Privacy Policy.

Ok that's pretty messed up. Maybe you should print a little disclaimer and mount it on the dash... lol

 

[ruthrj]

You would think the subscription service would be free considering how much data is collected and “shared” (I.e. resold). They’re having their cake and eating it too by charging a monthly fee on top of data collection and selling.

 

[vrsick]

You would think the subscription service would be free considering how much data is collected and “shared” (I.e. resold). They’re having their cake and eating it too by charging a monthly fee on top of data collection and selling.

I agree.

 

[gtbigup]

Hell no, but i had a compustar on my previous car and installed the same on my recently purchased CX-5
T-13 remote with Drone GPS tracking service transferred from the car i traded in.

 

[elementCX5]

Louis Rossman made a video on this topic. You know it's bad consumer practice when he gets involved.

 

[steve2150]

Not much to offer on connected services, does not even show tire pressures on it like my 2024 MX5 does

 

[TwinPeaks]

Removed connected services and deleted that app. Not going to pay a penny to them.