Do Tesla’s Outages Reflect a Software Challenge for OEMs?

Earlier this year, Tesla users found themselves in a bit of a digital pickle when the car company’s mobile app experienced a worldwide outage, which users need to lock, unlock and start their vehicles. Though the app-based access point is meant to create ease of use and an elevated tech-focused experience, it acted as a reminder to the consumer, and the OEMs, how vulnerable software- and network-based services are for cars, especially when they’re essential for accessing your car.

This example only scratches the surface of a larger trend of smarter car features, meaning more software code and more software-related bugs and defects. Smart features are becoming a consumer expectation & baseline.

A Global Automotive Consumer Study by Deloitte found the majority of consumers overwhelmingly prioritize smart features from blind spot warning to automatic emergency brakes to adaptive cruise control, all of which need software code.

features important for drivers' next vehicle including OEMs

Research by Sibros in early 2020 pulled from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data, found 2019 reached an all-time-high in software recalls, a threefold spike from 2009, which affected more than 15 million cars in the U.S.

Other recent examples include Tesla’s November recall of almost 12,000 cars due to a glitch in its full self-driving software. Jeep also recalled around 100,000 new Grand Cherokees and Wagoneers due to a software glitch that turns off the car’s airbags.

For perspective on this story, we sourced two experts from Canada’s University of Windsor: Professor of Mechanical & Automotive Engineering Dr. Peter Frise, and Associate Professor Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Co-Director of the SHIELD Automotive Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence, Mitra Mirhassani. Scroll down to the rest of the article for their breakdown tracking trends in software defects and advice for how OEMs need to rethink their production, testing, and network development processes to stay ahead of the smart car software defect curve.

Outages such as Tesla’s are very common, but that is partially due to the lack of connected cars on the road yet, according to Dr. Frise.

“Their systems seem to work okay when they work, but when they don’t work, it creates a lot of havoc. As these kinds of systems become more common, we may start to see this more often, and it can certainly create a lot of heartburn for people,” said Dr. Frise.

 

Dr. Peter Frise

 

Mirhassani agreed with Dr.Frise. Mirhassani says the high defect rate is partially because OEMs often outsource codes.

“For the OEM to deal with all these softwares that are coming from all the different sources, to test them to check them, to make sure that they work all of them perfectly, nicely, securely, and guarantee safety is a near impossible task,” said Mirhassani.

Mirhassani projects more defects in the coming years. She believes the reason will be because of constant and new developments in the field.

“It is additional EV and additional AI that is going to cause more chaos. So the expectation is that there will be more failures unfortunately related to the software and the integrations of them,” said Mirhassani.

 

Mitra Mirhassani

 

Constant outages and defects don’t come with zero consequences. According to Dr. Frise, OEMs will take a hard reputational hit from these issues.

“The last thing that any manufacturer, or any business wants to do is inconvenience and annoy its own customers,” said Dr. Frise. “You can imagine lots of scenarios when somebody urgently needs access to their car. They have a hospital trip that they’re in the process of making, or an important appointment or a meeting or something.”

As for mission critical jobs such as freight transportation and public transit, OEMs will need to adjust approaches to software development and network management. Dr. Frise suggests that OEMs should look towards the aeropspace industry. He says the aerospace industry is reliable because of their redundancy.

“A modern airplane will have three or possibly even four separate control systems,” said Dr. Frise. “That input goes into a computer and four different systems have to figure out what the correct response is for the airplane, what should the control surface do on the wing, and then they have to vote on it.”

Unfortunately, Mirhassani thinks there is no simple solution for OEMs to solve the glitch and defect issues.

“The problem is going to be larger than what an OEM can afford. And on top of everything else, most of the things we see these days are defects related to safety. Security is an afterthought,” said Mirhassani.

While there is no easy fix, Mirhassani believes a good start would be investing in smarter software testing. Mirhassani also believes there are a few steps OEMs could take to keep the defects at somewhat of a bay.

“We have to start thinking about how we can create a universal framework around the safety and security of the cars,” said Mirhassani. Enabling this “requires a coalition of sharing information and data between the OEMs. If they can integrate or develop more of the codes in house, then there is a little bit more possibilities.”

 

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

the people business
The People Business: A Model For the Future? Land Rehabilitation & Workforce Training
November 4, 2024

In this episode of The Apple One Podcast’s The People Business series, host Brett Howroyd dives into Buffalo, New York’s revitalization efforts, highlighting transformative work in brownfield redevelopment and workforce training. With insights from Stephen Tucker, CEO of the Northland Workforce Training Center, and Peter Cammarata, former president of the Buffalo Urban Development Corporation (BUDC),…

Read More
Ron Stefanski
The Bond Between Fatherhood and Education with Ron Stefanski
November 3, 2024

Setting the Stage for a Rich Educational Experience In a compelling discussion on the Grand Dads podcast, Ron Stefanski shares invaluable insights into the importance of embracing a well-rounded educational experience. As a seasoned Michigan man, Ron highlights the significance of stepping out of one’s comfort zone, especially for students who migrate from familiar…

Read More
authentic connections
True Religion Sets the Bar for Legacy Brands Seeking Cultural Relevance and Authentic Connections
November 1, 2024

A striking 86% of consumers now prioritize authenticity when choosing which brands to support, emphasizing the value of transparency, authentic connections, and relevance in today’s market. True Religion, remains true to its roots in culture, sports, and music, through authentic partnerships and a modern approach to style. Leading this transformation, Chief Marketing Officer Kristen…

Read More
sustainable transformation
The Path to Sustainable Transformation Is Rooted in Strategy, Execution and Reflection
November 1, 2024

Many strive for change, yet achieving and sustaining it is a complex journey. As people chase higher goals, often in career, personal growth, or relationships, the need to reevaluate approaches to sustainable transformation becomes apparent. Research suggests that nearly 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail by mid-February, indicating a need for sustainable systems, not…

Read More