2021 Mach-E won't get 2022 usable Battery Increase

[Mach1E]

Guess that would be defined as end of life (EOL). Not sure when for the MME but I know my i7 256 still gets updated. Graphic cards and chipsets get drivers for awhile. Even windows has LTSC. It can be a hardware change that creates EOL. If the software works on their hardware why not give it to them. Thinking that is only good for return business and the normal way of doing things is to make your tech last thru updates (as promised). We will see what other brands do also as tech in vehicles increases. Mine drives itself and beeps at me . If one brand offers updates and reasonable EOL and another does not or at the cost of a subscription just to push out an OTA that may factor into peoples future proofing? Not sure what iOS 15.2 gave me or what Sync 5.2 will? All speculation.

Was this update not only offered at the dealers which is different than OTA. I would hope after 3 years the software they are now installing at the dealers can be done OTA. I see dealer visits as a bug.

I would consider the end of the battery warranty more like the EOL.

Car will work/drive just fine without software updates after 3 years.

Video cards, windows drivers? No sure what that has to do with a car.

It’s not like you need to update your car so you can play the latest video games on it. Tic tac toe will run just fine on the “old” software.

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[Shayne]

That would make Tesla the outlier, not the standard.

Ford has been doing what Ford does for over 100 years.

You should set your “expectations” based on a century of what Ford has done, not what some other new competitor does.

Don’t get me wrong, I would be happy if they change their policy, I just don’t feel entitled to it.

What are you feeling you are not entitled to; a software update? Since Ford has no real track record on OTA to date what we are and are not entitled to is all speculation. One does it and it is a selling point it can become hard to not follow suit. But ya Ford does not want to rival Tesla at all that is why the center screen is a half inch bigger. Nothing in common.

I would consider the end of the battery warranty more like the EOL.

Car will work/drive just fine without software updates after 3 years.

Video cards, windows drivers? No sure what that has to do with a car.

It’s not like you need to update your car so you can play the latest video games on it. Tic tac toe will run just fine on the “old” software.

You see no similarity between windows, iOS and sync? Nothing is perfect but code gets refined and can always get better.

 

[Nikos]

That would make Tesla the outlier, not the standard.

Ford has been doing what Ford does for over 100 years.

You should set your “expectations” based on a century of what Ford has done, not what some other new competitor does.

Don’t get me wrong, I would be happy if they change their policy, I just don’t feel entitled to it.

I don't disagree with your opinion. We just see this little bit different.
Ford introduces the Mach E. Against whom. Tesla. The outlier. Everyone is ten years behind them. Ford knows that. Now they have to get it right.
Ford introduces the F-150 Lightning. Against the Cubertruck. Not the Silverado and not the Ram. Tesla is the legitimate competitor now. Outlier used to be but not now. I followed Tesla from the beginning. They have the plan and Ford has to meet or exceed.
Ford is changing direction... incrementally. Spending billions in new plants for batteries to electric motors to new assembly lines. All of their competitors are doing the same thing.
It is a race now. It is real now.
You and me are asking for something different. We are getting it. I am patient. I have been up to this point. Otherwise I would have purchased a Tesla.
Ford changed my mind.
So far so good.

 

[RedDragon]

That would make Tesla the outlier, not the standard.

Ford has been doing what Ford does for over 100 years.

You should set your “expectations” based on a century of what Ford has done, not what some other new competitor does.

Don’t get me wrong, I would be happy if they change their policy, I just don’t feel entitled to it.

The market will dictate what will happen. If everyone follows Tesla's route (which is my expectation) then we will all be getting updates long into the future. I'm guessing rivian will do the same as Tesla.

Just bc things have been done a certain way in the past does not mean they will be done the same way in the future. Consumers will vote with their pocket books on which strategy wins, and my bet is that people (especially younger demographics) expect cars to evolve into this new ownership model. A manufacturer who doesn't offer updates versus one who does could price cheaper as well.

 

[Mach1E]

What are you feeling you are not entitled to; a software update? Since Ford has no real track record on OTA to date what we are and are not entitled to is all speculation. One does it and it is a selling point it can become hard to not follow suit. But ya Ford does not want to rival Tesla at all that is why the center screen is a half inch bigger. Nothing in common.


You see no similarity between windows, iOS and sync? Nothing is perfect but code gets refined and can always get better.

I don’t feel I’m entitled to free service after my warranty expires.

I wouldn’t complain if I got it, I just don’t expect it.


Yes, there are updates in all those systems. I’m just not sure my car will NEED them to continue to run.

If they do continue to push updates after 3 years, how long do we expect them to continue to support the products?

Even windows eventually stops updating and being supported.

The end of warranty period seems like an easy place for them to draw the line in the sand.

 

[Mach1E]

I don't disagree with your opinion. We just see this little bit different.
Ford introduces the Mach E. Against whom. Tesla. The outlier. Everyone is ten years behind them. Ford knows that. Now they have to get it right.
Ford introduces the F-150 Lightning. Against the Cubertruck. Not the Silverado and not the Ram. Tesla is the legitimate competitor now. Outlier used to be but not now. I followed Tesla from the beginning. They have the plan and Ford has to meet or exceed.
Ford is changing direction... incrementally. Spending billions in new plants for batteries to electric motors to new assembly lines. All of their competitors are doing the same thing.
It is a race now. It is real now.
You and me are asking for something different. We are getting it. I am patient. I have been up to this point. Otherwise I would have purchased a Tesla.
Ford changed my mind.
So far so good.

It honestly sounds like we kinda agree.

I want them to change. They need to learn from the competition.

But my expectations are kinda that they won’t change, at least not quickly.

 

[ERIC8585]

I’m not yelling because the car I bought as sold to me functions as expected. I bought with no expectation of an increase in usable battery.

With all the software bugs they've done nothing to address?

 

[SnBGC]

Software updates are more than bug fixes. They can also include feature enhancements, like releasing battery reserve, enabling BlueCruise, adding a frunk release button, or updating maps.

According to FordPass website (not the mobile app)....the connected nav trial period ends after 3 years. That means nav updates won't be included unless you pay extra for it.

 

[SnBGC]

I am sure updates will be available. The question will be if they will be free, or fixed rate, or include in some subscription service, or a combination of the above depending on the update. It's moot for most for at least a couple more years... and even then only if it's a feature that would be used...

I expect to hit 36k in 4 months. At that point I am on my own and Ford isn't obligated to provide me any support for the vehicle. It will be my baby unless I have an issue with the EV powertrain. Then Ford will try and find a loophole so they won't have to honor the warranty. Shouldn't be too hard since most every issue so far has been caused by faulty software. Very very few actual mechanical failures that I know about....but these aren't even a year old yet so we have a ways to go still....

 

[SnBGC]

I don’t feel I’m entitled to free service after my warranty expires.

I wouldn’t complain if I got it, I just don’t expect it.


Yes, there are updates in all those systems. I’m just not sure my car will NEED them to continue to run.

If they do continue to push updates after 3 years, how long do we expect them to continue to support the products?

Even windows eventually stops updating and being supported.

The end of warranty period seems like an easy place for them to draw the line in the sand.

Good questions.
For point of reference....my niece received a letter from Ford saying the Sync system in her 2017 Focus Electric will be obsolete in the new year and she has to pay $300 for a new modem if she wants to keep it operational. Not sure what she loses exactly if she does nothing but it sounds like some features will go away soon.

She is now thinking of selling the car since this just may be the start of the nickel and dime process to bleed her bank account.

 

[Blue highway]

No. That is still the ICE time domain.
We are starting a new era.
Looking at what Tesla is doing, they keep updating their vehicles irregardless of how many miles or years old they are. Tesla does that. That's why they have the advantage. Real advantage. Ford is following that model or they always have a disadvantage.
Tesla can use that advantage to rub it to all ICE manufacturers. When you been doing things for 75 plus years one way, when you change course and do it another way ( like Tesla does ), then is some learning curve to overcome.
Is not that we will stand still and say nothing to Ford. We will complain and hold their feet to the fire one way or another. I am one of them.

A number of pundits don’t think legacy auto will survive the transition to EVs. They think that all that will be left in a few years will be Tesla, BYD, NIO Great Wall and VW. They are on the fence with Ford. GM has no prayer. If Ford doubles down on the model year time capsule business model they won’t make it. We will see.

 

[Gixxer750]

Good questions.
For point of reference....my niece received a letter from Ford saying the Sync system in her 2017 Focus Electric will be obsolete in the new year and she has to pay $300 for a new modem if she wants to keep it operational. Not sure what she loses exactly if she does nothing but it sounds like some features will go away soon.

She is now thinking of selling the car since this just may be the start of the nickel and dime process to bleed her bank account.

I got a similar letter from VW for my 2017 Golf R. In their case they just obsoleted it with no option to upgrade the modem or compensation for features lost. Just a kind of "thanks for playing" email.

 

[Blue highway]

I don’t feel I’m entitled to free service after my warranty expires.

I wouldn’t complain if I got it, I just don’t expect it.


Yes, there are updates in all those systems. I’m just not sure my car will NEED them to continue to run.

If they do continue to push updates after 3 years, how long do we expect them to continue to support the products?

Even windows eventually stops updating and being supported.

The end of warranty period seems like an easy place for them to draw the line in the sand.

Windows is supported for about 10 years with “free” updates. Car manufacturers have to stock repair parts for 10 years. iPhones are supported for 6+ years.

 

[MachEGTPilot]

I think this idea of getting what you think you are owed or getting what other people in a similar position are getting, is a very powerful thing.

I think it takes effort to put thoughts like that aside and not get caught up in it if it’s a trivial thing at issue.

The 1.7.1 Sync update was sort of the peak of this - lots of people absolutely fuming that they didn’t get tic tac toe and a notepad in their car, and most will probably never use either a single time after seeing that they have it.

The notepad is useless anyway, can't use it while driving, not even the passenger can jot down a phone number.

 

[RickMachE]

3G modems being obsolete has zero to do with the automakers....

My Ford alarm and remote start was made obsolete a year ago by the third party provider with no upgrade path.

Many consumers point the finger in the wrong direction.

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