Overview

• British VW ID.3 Pure and Pure Match models are electronically limited to 150 kW (201 hp) unless drivers activate a software-locked ‘power upgrade’ to reach 170 kW (228 hp).
• The upgrade is priced at £16.50 per month or a £649 lifetime license that remains with the vehicle if it is resold.
• Volkswagen insists the performance cap does not affect the ID.3’s advertised driving range of about 240 miles.
• Industry observers warn that discrepancies between listed and delivered power could trigger insurance notification requirements and mislead used-car buyers.
• This move follows a wider auto-industry shift toward ‘function-on-demand’ monetisation and has not yet prompted regulatory intervention or expansion beyond the UK.