It's long past time for car makers to make their cars more modular and upgradeable. I'll vote with my wallet for any car maker (e.g., Tesla) that goes the extra mile to make cars more modular and more upgradeable after they leave the factory, instead of trying to lock people into artificial option packages or new models every few years. This is both an environmental issue and an economic issue. Even Tesla doesn't get a free pass, since they don't make it possible to add carplay or android to their infotainment systems. It's time for upgradable cars: O'Donnell "But there are several other aspects of Tesla’s new cars that automakers should note. Tesla is one of the only carmakers that offers over-the-air software updates to their cars. The company takes the approach software is never done and offers regular upgrades not only to traditional infotainment features—such as clock apps and climate controls—but also to driving performance and automation functions. ...While most consumers would likely be content with software feature updates—even if they were just to the infotainment and basic car control functions—there’s no reason car makers couldn’t even offer some type of hardware upgrades. Many of the core computing components and circuit boards currently being used inside modern cars were, in fact, specifically designed to be upgradeable. However, most car vendors have simply chosen not to leverage that capability to date... ...But even without hardware upgrades, automakers could engender a great deal of value, appreciation and brand loyalty from their customers (as well as the possibility of some revenue) by offering software upgrades that help make people’s existing car purchases feel “new” again."
The reason cars are NOT "upgradeable" is the same reason that people rush out to buy a new smart phone every other year when they actually last twice as long (or more.) Profit. Planned obsolescence - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Musk isn't into the car thing for the money, and he's not into the space thing for the money either. He's got his little personality issues, but I believe that he REALLY SINCERELY wants to change personal transportation and how we look at our neighboring planets.....and our long term survival as a species. The other car (and solar, and space) companies are going to get dragged along behind him. I'm about 20 years too old to get into a 3.....and I've never been an early adopter anyway. I'll happily buy the droids than come along a few years after people pay for their i-products.
"over-the-air software updates" I would pay good money to NOT have this feature on a 3000 lbs mass moving at 70 MPH, thank you. I would very much like OBDII updates every 5000 miles at the dealer. I hate the very idea of my car getting updates and changing its rules whilst I am operating it. I would want exhaustive descriptions of how they will prevent security flaws. (One USB drive per customer my do it)
Understood. It's time to change the mindset and start insisting on it as a consumer driven (pun intended) required feature, just like hybirids and EVs, for both cost and environmental savings. Jimbo, just for you, we will make the software upgrades optional, with full owner control.
If I get to prevent over the air updates of anything traveling anywhere near me, I am good with that. (Have you NEVER taken computer updates or upgrades?)
i like the idea, and hope it catches on. but for now, i'll drive the car i want. will it be a Tesla some day? who knows. i wouldn't buy it for that reason, but if a bev worked for me, i would make a decision based on all available factors. i don't feel like i'm missing anything, driving a car that hasn't been upgraded in four years. but it would be nice if the battery packs were upgradeable, but there hasn't been enough advancement in battery tech to make it worthwhile.
I think you'll see a movement to make infotainment systems more update-able. But my guess is Entertainment/Navigation is going to be where it starts and ends. I do believe automakers could do a better job in this area. It's ridiculous to me, that IMO a $150 Garmin is a better Navigation system than most $1000-$2000 Navigation package's offered in most vehicles. Frustrating to me, that unfortunately I purchased the very last model year from Toyota where a back-up camera wasn't standard on a Prius Two, and now I can't officially OEM upgrade to a back-up camera. My only choice is to go aftermarket. Unfortunately for the vast majority I don't think upgrade-ability expands much beyond these boundaries. As mentioned automakers want to sell you a new car, and that does mean they want to be able to offer you a considerably different product in 3-5 years than the one you originally bought. Also there are a huge audience of owners that enjoy the hobby of "modifying" their vehicles. That is improving them in whatever aspect. If you have enough time, money and skill, you can upgrade anything- even today. Despite the fact that automakers don't really make it cheap or easy to do so.
Upgrades following the purchase of a vehicle have been stigmatized as a defect fix, rather than an enhancement to the system. Overcoming that presents challenges. Toyota already offers this over-the-air for limited features. The advanced model of Prius PHV has had that since the beginning. It was a good first opportunity to experiment with the ability... while waiting for customers to upgrade their own Wi-Fi at home. How many of you have a strong & fast internet signal in your garage for large download? The in-car safety system obviously can be used to check status. Eventually, that ability will become the norm. People are growing use to having routinely updates on their computers & phones.
