I got an offer from a dealer three weeks ago and was going to order the car, then the API for the community integration got turned off. I decided to hold back and see what comes from it. Now this, which ultimately - since I am a GrapheneOS user - makes me completely cancel my plans.

I really do not understand VWs thinking here. It would cost them little to nothing to continue not blocking the the inofficial API and not block GrapheneOS (or other non Play Protect androids) users. It would have no adverse effects on the average Joe, but it would gain a lot of support and enthusiasm from heavy users, differentiating from other brands. Not to mention the fact that it is the USERS data in the first place

The "app" they provide is 60% advertisement, 30% features, and I unironically preferred using a Home Assistant connection instead of of it for everything. Even for automations like "when to preheat the car", since that was easier and more intuitive outside of their native function.

This also means, that charge control from the cars side is not possible to automate anymore.

Sure, one could take the position "but it was never officially promised", but for some people, including me, having the api (which is paid btw) was a selling point.

Yes, I registered specifically for this comment.

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-S76WEl25k

  - Buy Pixel, Get Graphene
  - Use FDroid, don't sign up for Google Play, download Tor browser
  - Censorship resistant access to the internet without handing over your ID.

The squeeze on the free internet happened so quick by the UK (well it took years of indifference and a failure to enshrine protections - but once they started moving the did so super fast)

Realistically we're speed running ID being tied to internet usage - create your escape hatch while you can!

[1] https://en.nshc.net/

In my opinion, the most useful next step is to contact Volkswagen support in a coordinated and technically precise way [...] Smartphone: Google Pixel Operating system: GrapheneOS

I strongly recommend saying that the operating system is one of "Android" (there are many variants), "Android (GrapheneOS)", or "GrapheneOS Android".

But if you say only "GrapheneOS", you are practically telling VW to respond that they do not support that operating system.

I bought a 2025 Suzuki because it is a manual and there is no firmware update, no internet connection, GOS Android Auto is all I get and only if my phone connects with the car.

It is so weird how companies in 2026 still making such bad mistakes.

Please note that the use of the Volkswagen app is only supported on iOS devices and Android devices with supported operating system versions.

Is it time to mandate app developers support all operating systems for a device?

Happy voting with your wallet folks. See ya.

Not surprising to me at all that their software is a similar high quality experience, but in general I think it's weird that cars have to be connected to the Internet anyways and I doubt the competition is substantially better.

I rent cars whenever I travel to the US and I've never not been pissed off by a car's software.

If you live in a country that makes it practica/affordable and you don't need too much range, I wonder if buying an old car with a broken engine and paying someone to do an electric conversion is a good choice?

Or maybe generally just buy a ~10 year old car, find a mechanic and say "I want this car to last a really long time, if we can build a trust relationship I will spend a lot of money in your business" and just budget for extensive proactive maintenance? Maybe with this approach you can still save money relative to a new car?

Or, is it possible to buy a newish car and then just rip out and completely replace the infotainment/climate control/etc while still keeping stuff like the parking cameras working?

This is the WEF future your conspiracy uncle was telling you about during family gatherings. Well.

As a EU citizen, please sign this petition https://www.change.org/p/eu-data-act-durchsetzen-autoherstel...

https://www.theregister.com/on-prem/2026/03/10/microsoft-tig...

The liability culture at companies like VW is delusional, and they are deeply uncomfortable with software. They are suffer from individual departments and groups having individual authority and no drive to collaborate. Hence schizophrenic policies.

There's no way to verify the integrity of the system, and any malicious app can just grab your banking credentials or enable criminals to unlock and drive away with your car.

To me this smells like a cartel. Why is the EU not doing anything?