Tesla pioneered over-the-air (OTA) software program updates as a handy approach so as to add new options and repair points. Legacy automakers have been gradual to catch up—and there is a motive for that, says Ford CEO Jim Farley.

To avoid wasting prices, Ford farmed out growth of auto management modules, which govern the operation of all the pieces from engines to seat adjusters, to suppliers like Bosch, Farley explains on a current episode of the Absolutely Charged Present podcast, beginning across the 25-minute mark. This enables Ford to pit suppliers in opposition to every in aggressive bidding, saving about $500 per car produced, however means Ford should use a provider’s software program for a given module.

2023 Ford F-150 Lightning

“They do not discuss to one another,” Farley stated. “So regardless that it says ‘Ford’ on the entrance, I’ve to go to Bosch and get permission to vary their seat-control software program.”

The suppliers personal the software program in modules they provide to Ford, and the sheer variety of suppliers—about 150, in response to Farley—makes managing car software program tough.

Ford is attempting to deal with this by utterly in-sourcing its next-generation electrical structure, Farley stated, and writing extra software program in-house. However that presents its personal problem. Engineers used to engaged on earlier generations of inner combustion autos lack the required software program expertise, whereas devoted software program engineers lack expertise with safety-critical automotive programs, Farley stated, citing this as a motive for the corporate’s 2022 enterprise cut up into EV and non-EV passenger-car items. 

Ford started a shift to OTA updates with the Mustang Mach-E electrical crossover, and has added options like enhanced Amazon Alexa voice controls this fashion. For among the earliest clients, Ford additionally enabled its BlueCruise driver-assist system via an OTA replace after buy. However different automakers have been extra nimble with OTA updates.

Whereas some recollects nonetheless require a service middle go to, Tesla has been in a position to remove the necessity for a lot of by importing new software program. Lucid even narrowed a recall pool with a chunk of software program pushed to its autos. Jaguar, in the meantime, confirmed the probabilities for legacy automakers with an OTA replace to battery vitality management module software program addressing battery hearth issues.