Tesla’s lead in the electric car world isn’t just about sleek designs or battery tech. Another big factor is their ability to update car software wirelessly, just like a smartphone. This feature has been around on Tesla vehicles since 2012.
Recently, a Reddit user accidentally captured a scene where dozens of Teslas in a parking lot were updating their software at the same time. It looked so otherworldly, it was like aliens were landing on Earth.
While most car makers either don’t offer or have very limited software updates that require a trip to the dealership, Tesla does it over the air just like your phone. This lets Tesla add new features or fix bugs remotely.
Updates show up on the car’s central touchscreen or even through the Tesla app, allowing the company to push updates from afar.
Even cars that haven’t been delivered to customers yet can get updates directly over the internet. That’s exactly what the Reddit user caught on camera: a Tesla lot lighting up as the cars downloaded and installed updates.
The person who recorded the video thought the updates were coming through SpaceX’s Starlink satellites, but Tesla actually uses 4G LTE and Wi-Fi networks for these updates.
Although Tesla pioneered this technology, other automakers are catching up. Ford now offers over-the-air updates for the Mustang Mach-E. GM, Volkswagen, and others are rolling out similar plans for their new electric vehicles.
However, a challenge remains for other brands because they rely on franchised dealerships for servicing. Some dealers worry that OTA updates could hurt their business, making it harder to offer these updates compared to Tesla, which runs its own service centers.
Source: Electrek
