UK: Skoda now offers free magazines and newspapers with every drive

Some cars come with heated seats. Others with sunroofs. But Skoda? It’s offering something for the mind.

Photo by: Skoda

By: Angel Sergeev

Nov 7, 2024 at 4:04am ET

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Skoda has teamed up with the popular reading app Readly to give its drivers in the United Kingdom two months of free access to a library stocked with over 7,700 magazines and newspapers.

New Skoda buyers and loyalists who’ve picked up a new model within the last four years – can now settle into the driver’s seat with a little more to look forward to. And it’s not just the drive; it’s access to a vast online world of fashion tips, cooking hacks, current affairs, and much, much more. From the comfort of their car (with a dash display over nine inches, mind you), owners can pull up the exclusive deal right on their infotainment screen, activate it with a few taps, and get lost in all sorts of reading material. The two-month gift may not get them through Tolstoy, but it’ll certainly cover plenty of shorter content.

Gallery: Skoda teams up with Readly

Source: Skoda

It works like this: drivers spot the QR code in the “Offers” section of their car’s infotainment system, give it a scan, and then just follow the on-screen instructions. The link takes them to Readly’s site, where they can launch into unlimited reading on a phone or tablet. And before you picture drivers reading at 60 mph, don’t worry – it’s a “parked” perk, as the reading must happen on personal devices, not the car screen.

Skoda says this unusual move marks a first in the auto industry: a deal designed purely for the sake of on-the-go reading. Skoda also says the “Offers” app was developed to help drivers discover nearby deals and discounts, but this time they’re really shifting gears by offering a little intellectual entertainment.

Now, once the two months are up, the Czech automaker’s road-ready readers will face a decision – keep the subscription at £12.99 a month or walk away. For those who can’t imagine their lives without instant access to digital newspapers and magazines, it might just be a keeper. For the rest, it’s two free months of fun that’s lighter on the wallet and free from ads.