This unsurprisingly doesn't include the WiFi hotspot service, since that requires an LTE connection (AT&T in the US). All the same, Ford is eager to rub this in the nose of competitors. GM's OnStar can cost up to $15 per month, and your trial only lasts three months. Toyota charges $8 per month with a similar trial period. While free FordPass service isn't a huge savings in the context of the car, it could add up if you intend to keep a car for several years or more.

A move like this is likely easy to justify. What Ford loses in subscription revenue it might gain by spurring more customers to buy higher trim levels with FordPass Connect. There's also the simple matter of matching drivers' evolving expectations. When it's increasingly common to manage your car through a phone app, charging extra for the functionality may seem arbitrary.