If you initiate a wireless update of your car's software, you should make sure that you will not be using the car for a long time and that you are not blocking other cars.
An hour later, the entire group was supposed to take the car to a reserved restaurant table in the city center, but were greeted by the following message: “Updating your Volkswagen… It may take a while.” The car was not drivable and we could not take spring car because it was locked inside by the host's car.
The solution was a taxi and a laugh-out-loud conversation about places and times where you absolutely should not initiate a software update.
Update may take a long time
An hour should be enough, you might think? The upgrades to our Tesla Model 3 rarely take more than 30-40 minutes. The taxi driver had the same experience with his new Tesla Model Y. But according to Volkswagen, the update can take 3 hours – maybe shorter – maybe longer. This is not unusual for car models that are updated over the air (OTA). The time is affected by mobile coverage or Wifi quality, the size of the update and how cars handle downloading and updating. If the car downloads updates while it is in use, the car does not have to be immobile during the download. Furthermore, the update can go faster if the car can be disabled incremental update – that is, it downloads and updates only the parts of the system that have changed – not the entire system.
Automakers and computing power through the ages
Computers have helped make today's cars far more crash-proof than before. They have also made it possible to shorten the development time for new models, and have made it possible for new manufacturers to establish themselves in the market with cars that are as safe as established car brands.
From the beginning of the 1990s, the Renault very good results in crash tests. They acquired a Cray super-computer and thus gained more computing power than other car manufacturers. It was one of the reasons why the Renault Laguna II became the first model to achieve 5 stars in the Euro NCAP tests.
Volvo has always been known for having a head start when it comes to safety. While other car manufacturers launched models with rounded shapes, Volvo kept its straight and square models. This led many to believe that square cars were safer than round cars. The reason is said to have been that Volvo did not have sufficient computing power to calculate the crash safety of cars with round shapes.
At the very beginning of the 1980s, computers had just begun to be used for the development of car models. BMW used a computer for necessary calculations for the 5 Series, including the development of ABS (optional equipment). They only had one computer in the house, which the engineers had to share with the finance department, and were not allowed to use the computer while payroll and other important runs were in progress.
How long does a wireless software update for your car take?
I have used AI to find out how long an over-the-air (OTA) update takes for various car models. These are only approximate estimates based on what has been published online from both official sources and user forums. Keep in mind that update times are not an exact science. They can vary widely.
Audi Q8 e-tron: Does not have wireless update.
Audi Q6 e-tron: 3-4 hours
Audi Q4 e-tron: Models before 2023 require update to version 3.2 at dealer before receiving over-the-air updates. Estimated time will be the same as VW ID.4.
BMW i3: 20 minutes.
BMW i4: 20 minutes.
BMW iX xDrive40: 20 minutes.
BYD Seal: Few minutes to 2 hours.
BYD Sealion: Few minutes to 2 hours.
Citroen ë-C4: 60 minutes.
Ford Explorer (electric): Up to 60 minutes.
Ford Mustang Mach-e: 45 minutes.
Hyundai Ioniq5: From 9 – 100 minutes.
KIA EV9: Maximum 2 hours.
KIA EV3: Maximum 2 hours.
Maxus Euniq5: 30 minutes to 3 hours.
Mercedes-Benz EQA: A few minutes to several hours.
Mercedes-Benz EQB: A few minutes to several hours.
MG MG4: Does not have wireless update.
MG MG5: Minutes to 1 hour (some experience longer).
Nissan Leaf: 15-30 minutes (some experience longer).
Nissan Ariya: 15-30 minutes (some experience longer).
Opel Mokka e: 45-60 minutes.
Peugeot e-208/2008: 30 minutes.
Polestar 2: 90 minutes.
Skoda Elroq: 30 minutes.
Skoda Enyaq: A few hours.
Tesla (all models): 30-60 minutes.
Toyota B24X: 1 hour and 10 minutes.
Volkswagen ID.3: 3 hours (some experience longer).
Volkswagen ID.4: 1 – 3 hours.
Volvo EX30: 90 minutes.
Volvo XC40/C40: 90 minutes.
