Why Are Automakers So Slow In Adopting Over The Air Updates?

SECURITY is the problem

IF a company can send updates to a car that can affect virtually every computer controlled device in it - so can a Hacker.

Imagine what would happen if ALL the cars in Los Angeles suddenly just stopped working - or for that matter decided to accelerate to 100MPH without control of the driver. Think of the Liability because EVERYONE knows it is possible -so the manufacturers could not hide behind lack of knowledge.

And while the average hacker may not be able to do that - certainly government run terrorism hackers in Russia or China COULD do it.

And since they do NOT have the ability to completely prevent it, we are ALL far safer if this is restricted to in Dealership updates right now.

Also supports the dealer model

I seriously doubt that. Just look at all of the TSBs for vehicles now.

OK, so over-the-air software systems update is such a great idea? Just wait till some buggy software package kills your car. Level of satisfaction=zero. I work in the service business at a high line Euro brand and can tell you this sort of thing, while not an every day occurence, happens much more often that you might think. And many times requires factory intervention.

You choose when the car updates. So if there are improvements (sometimes performance improvements) new features, UI/UX benefits, and enhanced security over time... you wouldn't want that? Imagine if you didn't update your phone in 5 years, what that would look like.

I still have the first DIAL phone that was installed in the first house I built for my family. IT works - too. Mom still uses it and it works as good now as it did then. No crazy nonsense like Tones.

What I do not want - it the ability for ANYONE to be able to make changes to my car on the fly without my knowledge. I want to be able to verify that only the manufacturer is doing the upgrade - and Hackers will get around that too. Sorry - Current security technology does not breed enough confidence in me - that I want my car's brake system to be adjusted - when the Draw Bridge is opening in front of me. I you wash your car in that manner - that is yours to enjoy.

Most auto manufacturers' mindset just isn't in that space. They're the folks who charge $1800 for a factory GPS, while you can buy the top-of-the-line Garmin unit (with a better GUI and functionality) for around $400. They're the folks charging you for a GPS map update, and are typically years behind the currently available data, while Garmin makes this available over the 'net for free.

It's also why if you have some infotainment system problem, or some Bluetooth issue between your car and your device, it's not uncommon that you'll never see a fix from the auto manufacturer.

Bottom line: Although most automotive manufacturers use high-tech buzzwords, their minds are still in a space of selling shiny iron.

There is only one main reason--the dealer network that wants more excuses for potential customers to come to lots to be sold to and pay unnecessary service fees for software updates.

Actually - it would be cheaper for the Companies to do it without dealer involvement - because they would not have to pay a dealer to do the installation when under recall or warranty- and especially if it is quite a number of cars involved - this could save them millions of dollars a year. THe idea that they want to charge for this simply is not supportable since most of these are recalls or warranties anyway.

Customer satisfaction would plummet.