We all know this from smartphones: again the mobile phone manufacturer or an app with a new software update is “annoying”. Should I download this? Perhaps one or the other valued function will no longer work afterwards or the desktop is new? Well, let’s just wait and see.
Similar experiences are now being made at Volkswagen. In theory, the idea of doing business with digital services sounds impressive: The electric cars are fully networked and are conveniently kept up to date for the customer with service updates “over the air”. So far so good. But VW is now finding out in practice that almost every fifth owner has one VW ID.3 and ID.4 does not carry out any updates at all and is therefore still driving around with the old versions 2.3 or even 1.0 instead of the latest software 3.0.
20 percent were not online
“It’s obviously not a matter of course that cars are updated online,” says VW development director Thomas Ulbrich (56). And must acknowledge that its customers are not the same computer nerds, tech fans and IT hipsters as with E-car pioneer Tesla are where the updates also work on the customer side. The first update (2.3) has been installed on 120,000 VW ID.3 and ID.4 since the summer in Europe. According to Ulbrich, 15 to 20 percent of VW drivers have not put their car online once.
Battery as bait for update muffle
In order to bring the customer’s software up to standard, VW are now baiting those who don’t want to update with an attractive goodie – ironically not “over the air”, the car has to go to the workshop for it. Because not only is the latest software installed, but a new battery is installed that promises faster charging and more range in winter. The battery replacement campaign will start after Easter, customers will be informed. The 2.4 update is available for the battery.
Of course, this is only an intermediate version. Shortly thereafter, the change to 3.0 follows – “a real quantum leap”, as Thomas Ulbrich promises. Nevertheless, the next update should not be long in coming. “We are currently working on version 3.1,” reveals the VW head of development.
Bought yesterday, obsolete today
But first Ulbrich has to get his customers to regularly update the VW electric vehicles, otherwise the greatest software quantum leaps will not bring anything. By the way: Not all VW ID customers benefit. For example, memory parking requires additional sensors that are not yet installed in the previous ID models. Memory parking will only work on future new cars. The ID.5 starting next month has the corresponding software on board ex works, just like the one that will follow in the fall ID. Buzz even. So the good old computer wisdom “bought yesterday, already obsolete today” seems to be very up-to-date, even with cars and their electronics, despite all the “over-the-air” data transfer.
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