Ford to Expand Mach-E's Early Access Program For OTA Updates

[exact33]

wow, you guys have some really unrealistic expectations

It's been 4 months since sales began and there's already been one update. I already feel like Ford is exceeding my expectations

Less than 10,000 cars are out there. They aren't going to be pumping out an update every week

You guys need to seriously chill out a little bit

I agree. I would rather Ford take their time and learn how to release updates than let poor releases go native.

Sponsored

 

[Jimrpa]

1. never, ever buy a product based on the promise of future software updates. Even a Tesla. How many people have paid Elon Musk $10,000 for "Full Self Driving" that Tesla has admitted will never actually be full self driving
2. having a major update every month would actually be A Bad Thing. The car shouldn't change that much. Yes, bugs need to be fixed, and there are refinements that need to be made, but software development and more importantly deployment on the scale that Ford will be hitting, with a system as complicated as a car, in environments as diverse and uncontrollable as cars are in, mean they actually need to take great care in just pushing code out. Bricking a car is a lot worse than bricking a phone, and has major safety implications.
3. Also, having the car change out from under you is a jarring experience, and it doesn't need to happen often. They need to be very deliberate with their modifications to the software so that they get it right the first time because if they make a change, and it sucks, and they make another change to fix it then people will get frustrated that the car is never the same when they get in

Yes, there are a lot of bugs, and a lot of module firmware updates that are only going out via dealers right now, but give them a little time to actually get the car launched. I'm sure there will be a major bug fix update that rolls up all the module updates eventually. In the meantime, Ford does have a pretty big network of dealers who can run these updates for you and resolve problems that arise

Let’s do a Windows versus Apple comparson ? How often does Microsoft push out updates for Windows? It seems like I have to run System Update every week to pick up some odd collection of updates. How often does Apple push out updates for macOS? Usually, that’s pretty infrequent, unless they’re addressing a major security issue. My personal preference is for the Apple model (less frequent but meaningful updates), but once an update goes out, I’d like it to be available to all users ?

 

[solarmoo900]

Let’s do a Windows versus Apple comparson ? How often does Microsoft push out updates for Windows? It seems like I have to run System Update every week to pick up some odd collection of updates. How often does Apple push out updates for macOS? Usually, that’s pretty infrequent, unless they’re addressing a major security issue. My personal preference is for the Apple model (less frequent but meaningful updates), but once an update goes out, I’d like it to be available to all users ?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacOS_Big_Sur#Release_history

In 4 months, macOS Big Sur has received 7 updates. They also do staged rollouts (as you can see theres an RC and Beta available). I wouldn't expect a car to be at this scale but I'm also a bit disappointed that it might be months until the update

 

[Jimrpa]

Would you please be irrational? The whole point of agile is so that every sprint has a deliverable tested by guinea pigs customers. Heck, Ford's had 3 months, everything should be perfect after that amount of time- like the model 3 launch was. Clearly Ford will be out of business by next Friday.

LOL! A buddy of mine who works in aerospace finds this argument so funny! YOU try suggesting two-week sprints on manned flight qualified hardware, or billion dollar plus spacecraft missions! Do you really think that, as the plane is sitting on the runway, ready for takeoff, with almost 300 pax, it’s time to update the avionics because the latest sprint is ready? Or an interplanetary mission is going to be sitting on a launch pad, ready to start fueling, and they’ll stop everything so the software team can update software with a two week sprint?
He once had a software engineer ask him, seriously, why they couldn’t just reboot the flight processors if there was a problem with the new software? WHILE THE AIRCRAFT WAS FLYING!!!!! NONONONONO!!!!! The airplane will fall out of the sky like a rock!
Closer to home, I work for a major health system. Do you want to be in one of our proton therapy machines when the idiot agile morons decide to deploy the latest 2 week sprint? Personally, I don’t want to be near the vault where the particle accelerator is located.
Agile is great - when used correctly.

 

[Jimrpa]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacOS_Big_Sur#Release_history

In 4 months, macOS Big Sur has received 7 updates. They also do staged rollouts (as you can see theres an RC and Beta available). I wouldn't expect a car to be at this scale but I'm also a bit disappointed that it might be months until the update

RC and beta are NOT user facing. Those are internal and to a subset of developers. I’m talking about production releases.
Big Sur is actually on 11.2. 11.3 is a release candidate, not released to the public. 11.4 is a beta. As I noted, Apple does release some intermediate security patches. Those are the minor releases (3rd digit). They aren’t new functionality. I expect Big Sur 11.3 to be released before WWDC and 11.4 to be announced at WWDC with developers being provided the beta.

 

[SteelMach]

This is precisely why you will get *fewer* updates than you do on your phone. They are going to be much more deliberate with what they push out to a fleet of $55,000 cars vs. what they might do to $700 phones

As a customer, I expect the exact opposite. Not getting less for more, getting more for more.

 

[SashaLondon]

I would be happy with once a quarter as long it was regular and definate.

 

[timbop]

Two data points at the very beginning are not enough to build a trend line out of

PRECISELY

Ford is still learning to scale

agreed. see above.

Agile is great - when used correctly.

again, 100% agree.

Thinking that one can extrapolate the future trajectory of Ford's OTA plans and capabilities from what is obviously still a work in progress is woefully premature.

 

[eltonlin]

If you're outside the car, the quickest way to pop the frunk will likely be to hold in the 7/8 button on the pillar.

Yeah I get that but if you're inside the car, not sure navigating the menus on the center screen will be any faster or easier.

 

[generaltso]

Yeah I get that but if you're inside the car, not sure navigating the menus on the center screen will be any faster or easier.

Agreed. I assume it will be buried in the Access menu just like the trunk button.

 

[AllenXS]

Good OTA's are like wine. Usually better with a bit more age on it. Let Ford focus on getting more cars out there first and pushing out the tweaks at a sensible pace. I'm not hanging out for an OTA.

The amount of groans from Tesla drivers every time their screens get rearranged . Would hate that, depending on Tesla while driving. Besides, no matter how many OTA's they do it will never be a Mach-E.

 

[mixduptransistor]

As a customer, I expect the exact opposite. Not getting less for more, getting more for more.

You're just being unreasonable and continuing to discuss this with you is pointless

 

[kikibop]

I don't know how to add the article text and images

Really? You can't select the text of the article with your mouse and press "copy"?

 

[lwilliams0514]

Looks like Q3 OTA for the Frunk release via screen, FordPass app and even the driver door keypad.


FORD TO EXPAND THE MUSTANG MACH-E’S EARLY ACCESS PROGRAM – OTA SOFTWARE UPDATES

https://evbite.com/ford-to-expand-the-mustang-mach-es-early-access-program/

April 21, 2021

With this push towards a technologically focused landscape, OTA software updates are becoming a critical aspect of the automotive world. As one of the first to follow Tesla’s lead, Ford has made their first new-age EV, the Mustang Mach-E, Ford OTA compatible. Rather than use the compatibility for minor bug fixes, as seen with other automakers, Ford looks to improve upon the ownership experience with continuous additions to their vehicles.

Ford’s first OTA software update, admittingly lifeless, has come and went with nothing outside of “minor bug fixes” taking place. Now, thanks to a leaked internal document obtained by EVBite, we can expect another around the corner.

The next Ford software update, currently planned for Q3 2021, can expect the following additions:

• Front trunk release soft button added to center stack touchscreen
• Front trunk release button added to FordPass app
• Front trunk release via 7/8 button suppression on driver door
• keypad
• In-front-trunk release button functional

The company has been open to ideas in regards to new Mustang Mach-E features in the past. Most recently updating their FordPass Mustang Mach-E app to now display the vehicles charge status.

Ford’s Early Access Program
Taking advice a step further, the company has willingly introduced an Early Access Program to better gauge user feedback and suggestions. Initially, the program was stricken to just 740 Ford employees but the company is now looking to expand that number.

Interestingly this new batch of invites seems to focus on testing unreleased features. What those features entail is anyone’s guess.

Tesla has brought OTA into the forefront with their constant and innovative software updates. Not only have they brought cool new features like whoopie cushions and Netflix but substantial services like improvements to 0-60 times and ranges have further developed the overall ownership experience. Ford has promised more than the lackluster bug fixes but as of now, nothing is yet to be seen.

Invites are expected to go out beginning April 26th with no confirmation on whether the Early Access Program will remain exclusive to Ford employees or be available to some public owners. The program is currently limited to a small random few but Ford notes the possibility of expanding it even further in the future.

I hope they allow people to "Opt-In" to the Early Access Program similar to how Apple allows people to opt in to beta updates.

Sponsored