Lexus Dealer Called Out For Placing Ads in Infotainment System
By Brett Foote

Imagine seeing an ad every time you start your vehicle.

 

The old "start up image" feature has been gone for awhile now. I never set up a start up
but did experiment with the corresponding "shut down image" with a nice sunset shot.
Popped up when you shut off the car. Tranquil stuff. First saw a dealer installed shot when
I was prepping a car for delivery and this one had been Dealer Traded, brought from another
store in exchange for one of ours they sold. Sat in our stock until we showed it...guest and
salesperson responded with humor to see the logo of the other (nearby) store flash across!

 

Dating myself with this item, when Center High Mounted Stop Lamps "CHMSL" were first installed in 1985 one
of our competitive agencies took it upon themselves to make up clear vinyl panels with the pattern of their existing
trunk badge. When the their mechanics did the Pre Delivery Inspection it was required that they unmount the CHMSL
and slap this gel onto the lens and reinstall the light. Step on the brake...instant advertisement. Fast forward to
my sale and the guest very politely asked me to remove our (admittedly tacky) dealer badge. "no problem, done"
As they drove out the door and applied the brakes at the street...yikes, glowing tackier badge...of the other store!
Was quickly resolved when it was discovered that the CHMSL was a NTHSA requirement and could not be altered.

 

Definitely not a great idea. I know of a Mercedes dealer that puts RFID identifiers in every new car.

 

Bad looking graphics. Looks like it was a quick edit in Microsoft PowerPoint.

Just a startup JPG, which has been around for a long time that can be loaded via USB.