Why Are Dashcams Not Available As Standard/Optional Feature Direct From Car Manufacturers?

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Feb 28th, 2020 3:00 pm

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Feb 14th, 2020 5:53 am

goodking [OP]: Member; Jan 12, 2020; 493 posts; 767 upvotes

Feb 14th, 2020 5:53 am

Why Are Dashcams Not Available As Standard/Optional Feature Direct From Car Manufacturers?

Why are dashcams not available as standard/optional feature direct from car manufacturers?

Car companies aren't shy of offering a bazillion gimmicky features on their cars, so I've wondered why they've avoided offering daschcams.

I would have thought it would be a natural for them, and it would be great to have a dashcam internally wired and powered directly from the car's electrical system and viewable on the dash info console screen (or at least reviewable when stopped).

I might of thought it was a legal issue, but it seems dashcams are legal in Canada and elsewhere. Perhaps it's some sort of liability issue?

Thoughts?

45 replies

Feb 14th, 2020 6:11 am

vkizzle: Deal Expert; Aug 22, 2011; 38241 posts; 24426 upvotes; Center of Universe

Feb 14th, 2020 6:11 am

They've been optional at a ridiculously high mark up for some time now.

+3

Feb 14th, 2020 6:53 am

goodking [OP]: Member; Jan 12, 2020; 493 posts; 767 upvotes

Feb 14th, 2020 6:53 am

vkizzle wrote: ↑ They've been optional at a ridiculously high mark up for some time now.

Which car manufacturers offer them?

I just had a run through a couple of manufacturer websites and didn't see them on offer.

Just to be clear, I'm talking about dashcams designed into the car and factory installed, not aftermarket units installed by a dealership.

+1

Feb 14th, 2020 7:16 am

Kingsmen17: Sr. Member; Aug 6, 2017; 897 posts; 1558 upvotes

Feb 14th, 2020 7:16 am

Toyota/Lexus

+2

Feb 14th, 2020 7:45 am

jerbhu: Member; Nov 26, 2014; 295 posts; 299 upvotes; Toronto, ON

Feb 14th, 2020 7:45 am

Audi
Tesla if I'm not mistaken

Feb 14th, 2020 7:48 am

ordered_chaos: Member; May 21, 2009; 201 posts; 261 upvotes; Canada

Feb 14th, 2020 7:48 am

goodking wrote: ↑ Which car manufacturers offer them?

I just had a run through a couple of manufacturer websites and didn't see them on offer.

Just to be clear, I'm talking about dashcams designed into the car and factory installed, not aftermarket units installed by a dealership.

Not a “daschcam” technically but much better is what General Motors offers, the Performance Data Recorder system. Too bad it’s only the Corvette or Camaro 1LE/ZL1 that gets it and the old CTS-V.

https://www.chevrolet.com/performance-data-recorder

Of course Telsa also offers a dashcam as well with multiple cameras.

Otherwise it’s odd that others don’t offer it, especially since usually cameras are already installed for collision avoidance systems. You would think a dashcam would be easy to develop and then can offer it has a $400 option or something. Maybe too afraid to have it as it could expose dealership servicing scams

+11

Feb 14th, 2020 7:49 am

azmongold: Sr. Member; Oct 2, 2017; 832 posts; 588 upvotes

Feb 14th, 2020 7:49 am

goodking wrote: ↑ Why are dashcams not available as standard/optional feature direct from car manufacturers?

Car companies aren't shy of offering a bazillion gimmicky features on their cars, so I've wondered why they've avoided offering daschcams.

I would have thought it would be a natural for them, and it would be great to have a dashcam internally wired and powered directly from the car's electrical system and viewable on the dash info console screen (or at least reviewable when stopped).

I might of thought it was a legal issue, but it seems dashcams are legal in Canada and elsewhere. Perhaps it's some sort of liability issue?

Thoughts?

because once a company finds a community they can mass produce, they find ways squeeze as much profit from that commodity. For example BMW used to charge for bluetooth audio as an option, lane change assists were an option, backup cams were an option and that's the same reason dashcams are an option. If they can sell a car to you without it, they will.. until the competition (in this case Tesla) forces them to.

I'll see you at the top, cause the bottom is too crowded

Feb 14th, 2020 8:01 am

vkizzle: Deal Expert; Aug 22, 2011; 38241 posts; 24426 upvotes; Center of Universe

Feb 14th, 2020 8:01 am

goodking wrote: ↑ Which car manufacturers offer them?

I just had a run through a couple of manufacturer websites and didn't see them on offer.

Just to be clear, I'm talking about dashcams designed into the car and factory installed, not aftermarket units installed by a dealership.

Only Tesla at the moment is utilizing all of the built in cameras as part of their Sentry mode feature.
Other manufacturer's offer a dashcam as an optional add-on.

Feb 14th, 2020 8:03 am

StatsGuy: Deal Fanatic; Dec 20, 2018; 7754 posts; 6952 upvotes

Feb 14th, 2020 8:03 am

goodking wrote: ↑ Why are dashcams not available as standard/optional feature direct from car manufacturers?

Car companies aren't shy of offering a bazillion gimmicky features on their cars, so I've wondered why they've avoided offering daschcams.

I would have thought it would be a natural for them, and it would be great to have a dashcam internally wired and powered directly from the car's electrical system and viewable on the dash info console screen (or at least reviewable when stopped).

I might of thought it was a legal issue, but it seems dashcams are legal in Canada and elsewhere. Perhaps it's some sort of liability issue?

Thoughts?

Tesla has them.

Most manufacturers have them available as add on accessory

+1

Feb 14th, 2020 8:44 am

dantey: Deal Addict; Jul 14, 2002; 2658 posts; 1298 upvotes

Feb 14th, 2020 8:44 am

No idea, but with all the tech/cams front, rear it shouldn't be very hard for them to include into the head unit electronics/software. The only hardware that's required is an sd card reader.
A decent front/rear dashcam unit already costs at least $200-300 without installation/hardwiring.
I would say paying $500 for an oem integrated front/rear camera with parking mode is reasonable, esp. if the UI is setup well and well integrated (e.g. accessible through sd card/wifi etc).

Feb 14th, 2020 10:03 am

alanbrenton: Deal Expert; Apr 21, 2004; 56484 posts; 21536 upvotes

Feb 14th, 2020 10:03 am

Car manufacturers are already saddled with the burden of opening up the black box to regulators in times of investigation. They probably don't want another avenue for that.

Lexus/Toyota does sell them as an add-on during a vehicle purchase for $600 or so.

+3

Feb 14th, 2020 10:52 am

coriolis: Deal Expert; May 22, 2005; 20789 posts; 6261 upvotes; GTA

Feb 14th, 2020 10:52 am

Does the Corvettes PDR count?

+2

Feb 14th, 2020 11:17 am

coghlan: Member; Oct 26, 2003; 259 posts; 45 upvotes; Ottawa

Feb 14th, 2020 11:17 am

I think that we are now in the era of digital surveillance for our property (Ring cameras etc.) and therefore this should be offered as an option on most cars.

Feb 14th, 2020 12:45 pm

ordered_chaos: Member; May 21, 2009; 201 posts; 261 upvotes; Canada

Feb 14th, 2020 12:45 pm

coriolis wrote: ↑ Does the Corvettes PDR count?

Yep! It’s got a tour mode along with the full telemetry track mode. Would love a similar system on all my cars.

Feb 14th, 2020 1:01 pm

Zephyr22b: Deal Addict; Dec 19, 2005; 2389 posts; 1058 upvotes

Feb 14th, 2020 1:01 pm

I'd rather they all just start putting a usb port in the map light area.

“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. -Wayne Gretzky"
- Michael Scott

+3

Feb 14th, 2020 1:20 pm

engineered: Deal Expert; Feb 11, 2007; 19755 posts; 23172 upvotes; GTA

Feb 14th, 2020 1:20 pm

goodking wrote: ↑ Why are dashcams not available as standard/optional feature direct from car manufacturers?

Car companies aren't shy of offering a bazillion gimmicky features on their cars, so I've wondered why they've avoided offering daschcams.

I would have thought it would be a natural for them, and it would be great to have a dashcam internally wired and powered directly from the car's electrical system and viewable on the dash info console screen (or at least reviewable when stopped).

I might of thought it was a legal issue, but it seems dashcams are legal in Canada and elsewhere. Perhaps it's some sort of liability issue?

Thoughts?

Toyota and Lexus dealers offer it. Corvette's have it built in, and Tesla's have it built it.

So you want to pay a dealer many times more for a dashcam than a DIY or aftermarket shop?
That said, it is surprising that more dealers don't offer it as a way to milk money out of buyers. Maybe they don't want to because it requires actual work, as opposed to "rust proofing" or extended warranty.

If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

Feb 14th, 2020 1:41 pm

NTWKid: Member; Aug 22, 2011; 282 posts; 297 upvotes; NORTH YORK

Feb 14th, 2020 1:41 pm

I think there is confusion about what the OP is asking about. I think they are referring to a dash-cam that is built into the car like current reverse cameras from the manufacturer not a dealer accessory.

+1

Feb 14th, 2020 4:47 pm

AtticGoo: Sr. Member; May 21, 2018; 707 posts; 652 upvotes

Feb 14th, 2020 4:47 pm

Government made backup cameras mandatory for all cars built after 2014? or 2016? Same should be done for dash cameras, the technology is cheap enough to implement across the board now.

Don't forget to goo your attic!

+1

Feb 14th, 2020 6:01 pm

Xtrema: Deal Fanatic; Sep 1, 2004; 9675 posts; 9206 upvotes

Feb 14th, 2020 6:01 pm

MB with MBUX got them. No idea how to activate. A lot of different conflicting messages on activation but nobody seems to have activate it successfully.

Feb 14th, 2020 6:15 pm

vkizzle: Deal Expert; Aug 22, 2011; 38241 posts; 24426 upvotes; Center of Universe

Feb 14th, 2020 6:15 pm

NTWKid wrote: ↑ I think there is confusion about what the OP is asking about. I think they are referring to a dash-cam that is built into the car like current reverse cameras from the manufacturer not a dealer accessory.

Either way, it will still cost consumers money by going to to the next trim.
Front parking cameras are not even standard across the board yet.

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