Cars Are Now Computers, So How Long Will They Get Updates? Automakers Can't Say
Automakers face challenges in providing long-term software updates for vehicles, with many lacking clear commitments. The industry must adapt to consumer electronics models to ensure functionality and value over time.
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As vehicles increasingly incorporate advanced software and connectivity features, automakers face challenges in providing long-term updates for these "smartphones on wheels." Unlike smartphones, which typically receive updates for six to eight years, many cars are not guaranteed similar support. For instance, the discontinuation of 3G networks has left some Volkswagen owners without access to essential services, highlighting the disconnect between automotive software ambitions and existing hardware capabilities. The average age of cars on U.S. roads has reached a record 12.6 years, suggesting that vehicles need to remain functional and updatable well beyond their initial purchase. Experts express concern that automakers have not made clear commitments regarding the duration of software support, which could impact resale values if vehicles become obsolete before they are retired. Some manufacturers, like Rivian, aim for a seven-year update window, but skepticism remains about the feasibility of these plans. The automotive industry is urged to adapt to a faster-paced consumer electronics model while ensuring that vehicles can handle future software demands. As automakers explore subscription models for additional services, the need for reliable and long-lasting software support becomes increasingly critical. The industry must navigate the complexities of evolving technology and consumer expectations to maintain the value and functionality of their vehicles over time.
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13 commentsBecause of this, it should be mandated that 3rd parties be allowed full hardware access/documentation once the warranty period expires.
Automaker wants you to use their software forever? Good. They can out-compete the third parties.
You are allowed to buy third party auto parts, no reason you shouldn't be allowed 3rd party software.
Why are cars different? Personally, I would rather not have the UX of my car be subject to arbitrary change.
It was never updated.
Possibly because I wasn't going to give them $70 a month for On-star, internet, and GM super naggy status stuff. (Hey! Come pay more for an oil change with us, your car told us you neeeed it!)
Noone is interested in Software. Software is what is outsourced to India. Software is the super-annoying thing on there very annoying thing(electronics) that is sadly necessary to keep the mechanical marvels developed by the wrench-swinging monkey equivalents of real engineers relevant.
Most in-car ecus are not updatable, that would be 10ct more expensive per part.
If updates are possible, please pay through your nose at the certified repair shop for them to plug a SD card in you have to buy.
Most Car Execs think of software as something that is developed in the same process as a bearing. And it shows.
But this is what I expect, unless you maintain your auto at the dealership paying exorbitant prices for simple things, no updates will ever be done.
It is time for a federal law on this.
I expect at some point that stops being feature updates because new features rely on different hardware, but at minimum it means 15 years of security updates... in which case 15 years isn't enough. My last two cars were both on the road longer than 15 years. Thankfully they weren't connected to the internet.
And the other thing they don't commit to is that they'll have 15 years of updates where the maps app runs at more than 2 frames per second. So this had better not be anything like phone updates, where a 5 year old phone is sometimes allowed to run the modern OS update, but it doesn't run well. Will they maintain multiple branches based on different hardware requirements so they can keep shipping performant OS updates on old hardware?
It's a big reason I won't buy a car without CarPlay, I need the escape hatch of being able to run the new maps app from my phone manufacturer, on eventually 10+ years newer phone hardware. Even if the car's infotainment is amazing today, there's no guarantee it will be any good in 10 years and I'd rather have a backup plan.
Cars also depend almost entirely on the road infrastructure. The automakers don't support that. People need to realise if they want interoperability they need to choose open standards that their community can maintain. This isn't just a problem with cars.
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Electric vehicles (EVs) are plagued by software-related quality problems, surpassing internal combustion vehicles in issues per 100 vehicles. Tesla's user experience is affected by design changes, aligning it with legacy automakers. The shift to high-tech EVs brings consumer frustrations with software integration.
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