Wassym on software: "we like to think about 7 to 10 years..."

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

...in terms of how long the automaker will upgrade the software within its vehicles"..."But updates won’t stop after just 7 to 10 years, as that timeline is simply limited to functional feature updates. Bensaid said “for anything related to safety or security, it would go beyond those 7 to 10 years.”

Link to full article: https://www.thedrive.com/news/how-rivian-is-future-proofing-its-evs-7-10-years-out

Other notable excerpts:

Ford has updated the F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E’s software multiple times enabling bits of extra functionality through the touchscreen. But the automaker’s limited by its electrical architectures and outsourcing of components to simple tweaks. No Ford EV on sale today is going to suddenly ride better because of a free over-the-air (OTA) software update. The same can be said about most EVs on sale in the U.S. for the same reasons. The vertical integration and in-house developed electrical architecture at Rivian has paid dividends in this arena.

The upgradeability will be put further on display later this year. In September the Rivian RAD Tuner software and Kick Turn function will both arrive via a free (OTA) software update, but only for the 2026 R1T and R1S Quad.

Bensaid is right about consumers keeping cars for a long time. The average age of a vehicle on U.S. roads today is 12.8 years, according to a S&P Global report. Sticking to the smartphone comparison, Apple typically provides consistent software updates for 5 to 7 years before deeming a phone obsolete, but it too continues to provide security updates after that timeframe.

Bensaid is open to evolving the mindset. “We own our own destiny,” the exec said. Today’s goal is to continue to update the automaker’s vehicle software about every month, but things change. “Maybe we’ll change our opinion,” Bensaid said while noting maybe the automaker shifts its 7 to 10 year software upgradability to “9 to 11 (years).”

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[SANZC02]

"... in terms of how long the automaker will upgrade the software within its vehicles"..."But updates won’t stop after just 7 to 10 years, as that timeline is simply limited to functional feature updates. Bensaid said “for anything related to safety or security, it would go beyond those 7 to 10 years.”

Link to full article: https://www.thedrive.com/news/how-rivian-is-future-proofing-its-evs-7-10-years-out

Sounds about right, my Tesla is 9 years old and the last year or 2 seems like any updates are only bug fixes and map updates.

 

[usulio]

The question is less when do they stop providing new features, more when do existing features begin to break

 

[SANZC02]

The question is less when do they stop providing new features, more when do existing features begin to break

Based on my Tesla experience I’m not concerned, 9 years and 106k miles still works great, have not had a software issue in more than 5 years with it, once the feature adds slowed down the updates were pretty simple.

Super happy with my R1S as well, 2.5 years, 39k miles.

 

[chrisw]

The question is less when do they stop providing new features, more when do existing features begin to break

Every 7-10 years. It really depends on how much the software depends on the hardware underneath. After this period of time, the software tools advance, coding techniques change and evolve as new hardware is developed to the point where the older features (the way the feature was coded) will break.

I have seen this across every platform I have written code for (Dos, windows, mobile devices, IOT). Software has the concept of the "shelf life". Once that is expired, the amount of effort to maintain the code and add new features becomes unprofitable and unproductive.

 

[Golfer04]

I've had software issues in all three of my R1Ts from the start. Wish they would focus more on quality control. My Tri has now started phantom braking after having been in twice for a bad sensor. First time they found the rear harness had not been put around the wiring (didn't anyone inspect the vehicle?). When that didn't fix the issue they found the front passenger side sensor had not been correctly installed. I just got home and an error message pops up telling me not to charge until vehicle gets serviced. Wassym is over rated.

 

[DJFrerichs]

Link to full article: https://www.thedrive.com/news/how-rivian-is-future-proofing-its-evs-7-10-years-out

Other notable excerpts:

This is great to hear as a person who typically owns their car for at least 8-10 years to get as much ROI out of it. Depending on wire harness communication ability, I question if cars of the future will have the ability to upgrade/replace hardware with ease to further extend their life cycle of the vehicle, thus allowing it also to run newer software. No different to upgrading a PC towers mother board, RAM, etc to run newer programs and or improve image quality for gaming..etc.

 

[godfodder0901]

I've had software issues in all three of my R1Ts from the start. Wish they would focus more on quality control. My Tri has now started phantom braking after having been in twice for a bad sensor. First time they found the rear harness had not been put around the wiring (didn't anyone inspect the vehicle?). When that didn't fix the issue they found the front passenger side sensor had not been correctly installed. I just got home and an error message pops up telling me not to charge until vehicle gets serviced. Wassym is over rated.

Not sure how your hardware issues reflect poorly on the VP of Software....

 

[Golfer04]

I thought of that after I wrote it. But comparatively (to Tesla & BMW) slow screen response time and having to reset the vehicle once a week isn't likely hardware.

 

[usulio]

Every 7-10 years. It really depends on how much the software depends on the hardware underneath. After this period of time, the software tools advance, coding techniques change and evolve as new hardware is developed to the point where the older features (the way the feature was coded) will break.

I have seen this across every platform I have written code for (Dos, windows, mobile devices, IOT). Software has the concept of the "shelf life". Once that is expired, the amount of effort to maintain the code and add new features becomes unprofitable and unproductive.

But here the underlying hardware isn't changing.

The issue will probably more be that, once Gen 1 is out of warranty, it may be impossible to get hardware parts that are still compatible with the (frozen) software.

 

[theonetruestripes]

I've had software issues in all three of my R1Ts from the start. Wish they would focus more on quality control. My Tri has now started phantom braking after having been in twice for a bad sensor. First time they found the rear harness had not been put around the wiring (didn't anyone inspect the vehicle?). When that didn't fix the issue they found the front passenger side sensor had not been correctly installed. I just got home and an error message pops up telling me not to charge until vehicle gets serviced. Wassym is over rated.

Eh? Seems like you have a hardware error. The software is telling you “this thing is busted, take it to the shop!”. You have a valid complaint, but the complaint is almost for sure either or both “bad hardware makes it through QA to the customer” and/or “the service centers are too overloaded (or the tech too poorly trained) to actually fix important stuff, and maybe busted my truck while fixing something else”.

Both are no doubt serious issues, but neither really fall under Wassym’s perview.

You may as well complain that Rivian’s paint shop is overrated because you don’t like the tires, or the printshop is overrated because the R2 quad doesn’t accelerate faster then the R1 quad. Or indeed, blame what is actually going wrong on your R1 on the paint shop.

 

[ARGi]

Link to full article: https://www.thedrive.com/news/how-rivian-is-future-proofing-its-evs-7-10-years-out

Other notable excerpts:

If he's going to fight against the safety of CarPlay, be better than it.
Right now Messaging is impossible. Fix it. We need to be as competitive as everyone else.
Our cars are communication tools now. C'mon.

 

[Rivian_Hugh_III]

Link to full article: https://www.thedrive.com/news/how-rivian-is-future-proofing-its-evs-7-10-years-out

Other notable excerpts:

“7-10 years” — that’s because there will be a new “generation” every three years. I have a 2024 R1T so it’ll get 7 years.

(2022-2024 Gen 1) obsolete in 2031
(2025-2027 Gen 2) obsolete in 2034

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Bitch. Moan.

This isn't the complaints department, or the subreddit. Send your feedback to Rivian via their social accounts and through your Rivian mobile app > scroll to bottom of home screen > share feedback.

Shit-posting is not "good conversation" and does nothing to resolve your pet-peeves.

 

[Riviot]

Bitch. Moan.

This isn't the complaints department, or the subreddit. Send your feedback to Rivian via their social accounts and through your Rivian mobile app > scroll to bottom of home screen > share feedback.

Shit-posting does nothing to resolve your pet-peeves.

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