Fixed Ops Journal - December 2019 - F26

FIXED OPS JOURNAL

HANDS ON

HAVE NO FEAR

Tesla regularly provides over-the-air updates of
the software in its electric vehicles to add features,
fix glitches and expand performance options.

Over-the-air vehicle updates can help, not hurt, dealership service departments

RICHARD

TRUETT

rtruett@crain.com
Fixed Ops Journal

infotainment system.
Eventually, Ford says, over-the-air reflashes will include fixes that
respond to recalls and update critical safety systems. Such repairs now
require customers to bring their cars and trucks to a dealership's
service department.
GM says it will expand OTAs beyond infotainment systems with the
new electrical architecture that debuted this year on the Cadillac CT5
and will appear on the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette. GM says it will be able
to deliver OTAs to most of its vehicles by 2023.
Volkswagen's rollout of OTAs starts next year on its electric vehicles.

Shop disruption
The arrival of OTAs on mass-market vehicles will disrupt dealership
service departments. Fewer owners will return to the shop for reflashes.
But several experts I spoke with say OTAs are not a threat, should not be

PAGE 26

DECEMBER 2019

feared and might even boost service revenue if they're managed properly.
Electric vehicle maker Tesla pioneered OTA technology nearly a
decade ago. When a Tesla is parked, software can update its powertrain
and infotainment system wirelessly, like an update to a cellphone or
laptop computer. In April, Tesla extended the driving range of its Model
3 with an OTA.
Luxury brands such as Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo have
used OTAs to update some systems, mostly infotainment. Jaguar Land
Rover will offer OTAs next year
on several models.
"As more and more of
Automakers are moving to
OTAs because consumers
the systems within the
demand the convenience of
vehicle are dependent
having their vehicles updated
without needing to schedule a
on software, it's going
service appointment at a
to be important to do
dealership. OTA updates for
safety and emissions systems also
updates in a timely
benefit automakers, says Sam
manner."
Abuelsamid, principal analyst at
Navigant Research.
SAM ABUELSAMID
"As more and more of the
principal analyst
systems within the vehicle are
Navigant Research
dependent on software, it's
going to be important to do
updates in a timely manner," Abuelsamid told me. "Fiat Chrysler and
others have had issues where they send out recall notices and it's up to
the customers to come in" to the dealership.
"The [recall] regulations require them to hit a certain percentage of

"

"

W

e've known for a long time
that over-the-air updates
(OTAs) - software reflashes
transmitted directly to
connected vehicles - will migrate from
luxury to mainstream brands. We just didn't
know which mass-market automakers
would press the button first.
Now we do: Ford, General Motors and
Volkswagen.
In October, Ford announced that starting
next year, all of its new or significantly
redesigned vehicles will be able to receive
OTAs for most onboard computer
modules. Initially, Ford will use OTAs solely
to update and add features to a vehicle's

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