Owners of the all-new, all-electric Mustang Mach-E won’t need to experience the fear of missing out, thanks to over-the-air updates continuously improve the SUV over the vehicle’s life without leaving home.
And unlike some other cars 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, can 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 way beyond SYNC updates. Nearly all Mach-E computer modules can be updated wirelessly, meaning Ford can deliver 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 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 with customers. Owners will receive notifications detailing the software updates when they are available, which can then be applied using either Wi-Fi or cellular connections, depending on the update.
Ford delivering for its customers even during a pandemic
To ensure Mustang Mach-E launches with this advanced capability as planned, Ford’s engineering team has found new ways to develop and test over-the-air updates in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Previously, teams would have to get together in the same physical space to access all the different vehicle modules needed to test over-the-air capabilities – but work-from-home requirements meant engineers needed to think fast to change the way they operate.
The team moved swiftly to set up remote access to all of the vehicle modules, even wiring them with tools enabling them to quickly re-program modules from their homes. What initially took five hours to program remotely can now be done in under 10 minutes.
“By quickly implementing remote access to our vehicle components, we’re ensuring our Mustang Mach-E customers can enjoy the great capabilities they’ve been looking forward to from the start, while providing the accommodations our engineers need to continue innovating from the safety of their homes,” said Vangelov.
