Ford Plans to Provide Mustang Mach-E Updates Over the Air
Like Teslas or your iPhone, the new Ford Mustang Mach-E will be able to upgrade and update itself wirelessly and in less than two minutes.
Earlier today Ford announced a safety recall for 2019-2020 Ford Mustangs who have a problem with their “transmission not in park” warning system. It’s not a huge deal and, of course, the dealership will fix it for free. But it’s still a hassle. You have to make an appointment. Drive over. Then either wait or get a ride. If you’re lucky, it eats an hour. But what if your Mustang could update, upgrade, and fix itself without ever having to go to the dealership. Well, the upcoming Mustang Mach-E will offer exactly that.
Much like Tesla vehicles or any modern smart device, Ford “has developed a way to allow secure updates to download in the background, and in some cases, be completed in under two minutes.” Certain computer-based safety recalls no longer need a trip to the dealership. You can add new features that weren’t available when you purchased the car. Or you could unlock the full performance potential of your Mach-E without having to swap any parts.
What do we mean? Ford vehicles have been able to update SYNC radios wirelessly for a while, and of course, many new Mustangs include the ability to be unlocked and remote-started via a smartphone app. But with the Mach-E, “nearly all Mustang Mach-E computer modules can be updated wirelessly.” Not all of these updates will be free, but at least you won’t have to go to the dealer.
Ford says they plan to start rolling out “updates within six months after the first Mustang Mach-E vehicles are in the hands of customers. Owners will receive notifications detailing software updates when they are available, which can then be applied using either Wi-Fi or cellular connections, depending on the update.” And, starting this year, Ford’s going to be adding this type of connectivity to more of its vehicle lineup.
However, there is one downside to all of this innovation and convenience. Security will be a concern in the future, making sure thieves and other criminals aren’t hacking these systems. But perhaps more concerning will be how Ford treats Mach-E owners. Much like a Tesla vehicle or even your Amazon Kindle library, manufacturers have a lot of control over wirelessly-connected devices. Amazon can take away your books, while Tesla purposely deactivates features like supercharging on salvage-title Teslas. Both situations blur the line between maker and owner. Let’s hope Ford is less invasive than Elon.
Here’s Ford’s Mach-E Press Release
Owners of the all-new all-electric Mustang Mach-E won’t need to worry about keeping up with the Joneses, thanks to over-the-air updates that work to continuously improve the SUV over the vehicle’s life without leaving home.
And unlike some vehicles that require owners to wait while a software update takes place, Ford has developed a way to allow secure updates to download in the background, and in some cases, be completed in under two minutes.
“The beauty of the Mustang Mach-E is that what our customers experience on day one is just the beginning – it will evolve to add even more features and capabilities over time,” said John Vangelov, connected services manager, Ford Motor Company. “Our clever over-the-air updates also minimize downtime through incredibly fast activation and ensure your Mustang Mach-E is always getting better, even when you’re asleep.”
These improvements go well beyond SYNC updates. Nearly all Mustang Mach-E computer modules can be updated wirelessly, meaning Ford can provide performance enhancements and entirely new features that might not exist when customers first take delivery of their vehicles.
Some installations will be virtually invisible to customers, who can select a regular time – such as the middle of the night – for updates while their Mustang Mach-E is parked. Many updates will be completed almost instantly after a customer starts their vehicle, while in-vehicle alerts will tell them what improvements have been installed. Many can be completed in under two minutes, and more complex updates that might require the vehicle to be parked for longer can be scheduled to take place when customers find it most convenient.
Ford expects to deliver its first updates within six months after the first Mustang Mach-E vehicles are in the hands of customers. Owners will receive notifications detailing software updates when they are available, which can then be applied using either Wi-Fi or cellular connections, depending on the update.
Mustang Mach-E is just the start when it comes to this technology. In 2020, Ford will begin equipping most redesigned vehicles in the U.S. with advanced over-the-air update capability for quick and easy wireless upgrades that can help enhance quality, capability and improve the ownership experience over time while reducing dealer trips.
Photos: Ford
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