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Tesla Software Updates

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Over-the-air updates: How does each EV automaker compare?

over the air updates

Ever wondered how your electric vehicle updates itself over the air (OTA)? Is it software or firmware? Perhaps you’re wondering if the new EV you’re considering is even fit with over-the-air capabilities.

No matter the reason, we’ve put together a guide outlining how OTA updates work, plus some of their benefits looking toward the future. Furthermore, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of EV automakers, and their current status of OTA implementation.

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How Tesla software updates work and how to install them

Tesla Software Updates

In addition to existing as some of the most popular electric vehicles on the planet, Teslas contain some advanced software features that provide continued longevity compared to traditional ICE cars. The automaker’s proprietary software stack allows for continuous software and firmware updates over-the-air. Below is everything you need to know about Tesla software updates.

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Tesla update forks features for Model 3s built pre/post April 2019

Last week we reported that the latest over-the-air Tesla software update improves driving visualization to detect and render traffic cones. Then on Thursday we also shared a video of a Tesla navigating its way through traffic cones, courtesy of Tesla hacker @greentheonly. Now @greentheonly is reporting that the traffic cone feature is only being delivered to Tesla owners with the “Hardware 3” chip (HW3). This is significant, as it’s the first time that software features (in this case, Auto Lane Change and Navigate-on-Autopilot) will be forked for Tesla drivers depending on when their Tesla was built.


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Tesla’s full list of new features enabled with software updates is a glimpse at the future of the auto industry

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Tesla has been pushing the use of software updates, and especially over-the-air software updates, like never before in the automotive industry. Other automakers have been held back by their dependence on third-party dealerships who want to retain their monopoly on servicing vehicles, which is threatened by over-the-air software updates.

It will be more difficult to stop this progress in the near future, especially with the advent of autonomous driving, and Tesla’s full list of new features enabled with software updates gives us a glimpse at what it can do.
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