I actually ended up switching to Kagi for this exact reason. Google is basically AI at the start usually spouting nonsense then sponsor posts and then a bunch of SEO optimized BS.

Thankfully paying for search circumvents the ads and it hasn’t been AI by default (it has it but it’s off) and the results have been generally closer to 2010s Google.

No for sure I hear what you’re saying, onstar was just a handy example, other vehicles have OTA updates also and systems to disable the vehicle.

My point was the tech isn’t specific to BEV it’s becoming a “feature” in modern cars more broadly

This isn’t specific to electric cars, vehicles equipped with On Star can be remotely disabled in the event of theft (and by extension I imagine a legal injunction). I imagine this extends to other vehicles also.

The real problem is the OTA updates and always-online nature of modern vehicles, not necessarily what powers them.

Honestly the only time I’ve said this it was a relief to know that the answer was yes, because while it sucks others are hurting it made me feel far less alone and obscure.