Volkswagen has started the over- The Air has officially announced updates to its all-electric ID-3 and ID-4 cars. In future, cars will no longer have to drive into the workshop to import new software.
Almost a year after the market launch of the VW ID 3 (test), the Wolfsburg-based car company has completed the wireless update function that was already promised with the announcement in autumn 2019. As of Monday, the models of the “first movers” are to receive new functions with an over-the-air update.
VW ID 3: Volkswagen gets his Software under control
While competitors like Tesla or BMW have been providing their vehicles with new software functions wirelessly for years, it took a little longer at Volkswagen. After allegedly “massive software problems”, the Wolfsburg-based auto giant has gradually got its software under control and, in its own words, is heralding “a paradigm shift”. The next step in the planned transformation is to develop from a “sheet metal bender” to a software-driven automotive company so as not to end up like Nokia once did, as CEO Diess warned.
1 of 8
That brings the first OTA update for the VW ID 3
The first over-the-air update for the ID 3 was tested in March for several thousand company-own Vehicles rolled out. Now it is the turn of the vehicles of the first mover club, which had to drive their cars to the workshop one last time to make them fit for the wireless update function. According to VW, a total of 35 ID control units can be updated regularly in this way.
With the first OTA update, Volkswagen is introducing expanded functions for the ID light in the vehicle the dynamic high beam control has been optimized. The manufacturer also speaks of improved usability of the infotainment system and general optimization of performance and system stability.
According to Volkswagen, the first OTA update is one of many that To supply models with numerous new functions and optimizations. The software development is carried out in cooperation with the company’s subsidiary Cariad. According to the automaker, four updates per year are planned in the form of software bundles. The group has not revealed when the first functions that can be activated for a fee can be expected – there is still no schedule.
More on the subject
- VW.OS: “We want to develop our software platform ourselves”
- New VW software: customer settings can be transferred between cars
VW ID 3: The update process should feel like a smartphone
Volkswagen also revealed how an OTA update works: The new software is downloaded via the LTE cellular network while driving – at least the vehicle must be switched on for the download. The driver does not notice anything about the actual download process. Only when the several gigabyte installation package has been downloaded will a message appear on the screen.
1 of 6
In addition to the ID 3, the car manufacturer will also produce the ID-4 and its other ID models , which are based on our own modular electrical system (MEB), are provided with new functions via OTA update. For models based on the older MQB (modular transverse matrix), the car manufacturer also wants to update some functions via the OTA function – but they are not as extensive as with the more modern ID vehicles. Among other things, it should be possible to update navigation, adaptive cruise control and lighting assistance in this way. On-demand functions should also be bookable in future. The other ID models such as the ID 4 and ID 4 GTX will also be successively provided with OTA updates.
