- Stellantis — parent company of Dodge, Jeep, Ram, and other brands — is using the screens in its cars to advertise its cars
- There’s a way to turn it off, but it’s annoying
Your car might be trying to sell you a new car.
Stellantis, parent company of Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram, has begun pushing advertisements to the screens of its cars.
Automotive journalist Zerin Dube was the first to note the tactic. He started his Jeep Grand Cherokee late last week and was greeted with an ad for discounts on new Jeeps.
He wasn’t alone. Social media sites are inundated with complaints about the in-car ads.
A Stellantis spokesperson told The Drive that a select group of owners recently received a special marketing notification in their vehicle, and “we tailored this special offer to minimize any intrusions.”
Jeep tried a similar tactic in February, advertising extended warranties inside its cars. The attempt didn’t last long after a public backlash. But, this time, it may be working. The spokesperson told The Drive, “As a result of these efforts, we have seen our customers take advantage of this offer.”
Still, in-car advertising has not been well received by the public in the recent past. Last year, Ford filed a patent for an in-car advertising system that would use the car’s speakers and display screen to serve ads to drivers and passengers.
After media reports, the company quickly announced that it did not intend to follow up on the idea.
If you own a Stellantis product and want it to stop advertising to you, you’ll need to call the company. It’s not a screen setting you can disable. Owners can opt out of the advertising by calling Stellatis Customer Care at 800-777-3600 and requesting that it be turned off.
