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At what point does a car become more of a computer on wheels? Computer integration in the automotive industry is nothing new, however it’s accelerating at breakneck speed. Both software and hardware become outdated in no time at all. Is there a way for car buying habits to steer clear of the two-year replacement cycle that smartphones have fallen into?
As soon as computers grew wheels (in the form of electric vehicles), forward-thinking automakers launched over-the-air (OTA) update capabilities. Tesla was the first to do it, and now the likes of Ford, GM and Volkswagen are among the legacy OEMs marketing their vehicles as OTA-ready. Although, not all who’ve tried it have succeeded without hiccups. Here’s how OTA updates are changing car ownership, and what’s to come in the years ahead.
What Is an Over-the-Air (OTA) Update?
You know when your phone gives you a push notification about scheduling a time to install the latest software updates and bug fixes? Well, cars can do that too now. OTA updates are not just for software fixes. With OTA capability, vehicles can receive enhanced performance and safety improvements via a simple wireless internet connection.
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OTA updates eliminate the need for making a service center visit for many simple fixes and updates. The updates are sent and downloaded via access to a cloud-based server with a wireless internet connection. Many updates are free of charge, and all safety enhancements are at no cost. However, we are entering a new era where OTA presents a new revenue stream for car makers.
Everyone’s getting in on the subscription business, and the auto industry is no different. There are two kinds of OTA updates: those for infotainment, and those for vehicle performance and control. They may target either software or firmware, the latter of which required more advanced security protocols to implement.
Infotainment OTA Updates
2022 Kia EV6
Infotainment updates improve the user experience. A classic example is how Volkswagen ID.4 owners are pleading for an improved infotainment performance after the original equipment was delivered with a laggy touchscreen and haptic buttons. Fortunately for ID.4 owners, the car is among VW’s first generation of OTA-capable models, and a fix is on the way.
Sometimes, OTA revisions cause frustration and even anger from customers. Tesla recently pushed the Version 11 user interface to all of it’s vehicles via over-the-air download. The result was strong critical feedback from customers, most of whom were complaining about the automaker trying to fix something that wasn’t broken.
Vehicle Performance and Control OTA Updates
GM Ultium Battery and Powertrain
How is it that the 2023 Tesla Model 3 has a quicker 0-60 time now than it had when it was first purchased? Or how Tesla vehicles can gain or lose access to the controversially-named ‘full self-driving’ based on driver safety scores? With OTA capability, automakers can send everything from a power boost to a pedestrian avoidance feature to cars already in driver’s hands.
Vehicle performance and control updates can include updates to the vehicle’s powertrain, chassis systems, and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Of course, updates to these critical components of a vehicle are only possible when the components are electronically controlled and operated. For this reason, an older car model can’t be retrofitted to become OTA capable.
Examples of fixes and improvements automakers have installed via OTA
Tesla offers an ‘acceleration boost’ for the popular Model Y that lowers the 0-60 time from 4.8 to 4.2 seconds
Tesla regularly updates the ‘full self-driving’ upgrade, which is currently in beta testing
The Cadillac Escalade has received GM’s first big OTA update to improve the SuperCruise hands-free driver assistance (ADAS) technology
Ford delayed the release of a major OTA update for the BlueCruise hands-free driver assistance (ADAS) technology
Volkswagen released the first of a series of promised software updates targeted at improving the infotainment experience
Which Automakers Offer OTA Updates?
Tesla was the first automaker to roll out over-the-air capabilities with the launch of the Model S in 2012. After years of skepticism from the competition, here are the other OEMs that have announced or commenced OTA updates in their vehicles:
Automaker
OTA-Upgraded Components
Audi
Navigation
BMW
Infotainment, optional features
Ford
ADAS, several other components
General Motors
Nearly every vehicle component on EVs, major components on combustion vehicles
Honda
Infotainment
Hyundai
Infotainment, voice assistance
Jaguar/Land Rover
Infotainment, charging capabilities
Lucid
Nearly every vehicle component and system
Mercedes-Benz
Infotainment, navigation
Nissan
Infotainment
Polestar
Nearly every vehicle component and system
Porsche
Limited functions
Rivian
Nearly every vehicle component and system
Stellantis (FCA)
Infotainment
Tesla
Nearly every vehicle component and system
Toyota
Infotainment
Volkswagen
Several vehicle components and systems on EVs
Volvo
Nearly every vehicle component and system
Are OTA Updates Safe?
2023 Cadillac Lyriq
We’re used to having virus protection on our computers. If we don’t, bad guys will find a way to compromise the computer and access personal information. Are the same security and privacy concerns applicable to automotive OTA updates?
Since OTA updates require a wireless internet connection to install, there are risks for malware and the unintended release of personal information. The best way to protect yourself from these risks is to only accept OTA updates while connected to a secure network, such as the wifi network at your home. Don’t try updating your car at the fast food or coffee shop drive thru!
What’s Next?
2022 Volkswagen ID.4
Over-the-air updates are about to take the auto industry by storm. Now that major OEMs are proudly marketing their ability to improve the user experience (which itself sounds like they’re selling more of a tech product than a car), a paradigm shift is at hand. Volkswagen Group CEO Herbert Diess recently told The Verge about VW’s plan for a reimagined future where the relationship between the automaker and customers is more intimate and dynamic with the power of OTA updates and new ways of customizing the ownership experience.
“Imagine: for a long time, we did not have access to a customer as a company. The customer access was exclusively with our retail network. What we experienced over time was that people walk away from our retail outlets and go to third parties to substitute some of the spare parts or buy new tires. Now, we have a new opportunity to be in direct contact with the customer, which is totally new for us.”
New Revenue Streams for Automakers
Not only is the largest automaker in the world committing to OTA capability, the likes of Ford, GM and even tech-cautious Toyota are joining the bandwagon too. Will OTA updates remain a free upgrade for millions of car owners? Unfortunately, that’s already slipping away. Tesla offers acceleration boost upgrades for its popular Model Y for $2,000, and Toyota recently tried making customers pay for remote start, a feature that is OTA-controlled.
Even the CEO over at Volkswagen Group acknowledges the new money-making avenues made possible by software updates, telling The Verge that eventually, customers will have to pay for what they want.
“We have that revenue in mind for sure as well. Customers will be prepared for some features they didn’t buy at the start, probably after a few years or after a few months — even if they consider taking another option or another software feature, the customers would be prepared to pay a monthly fee or a one-time expenditure.”
CarEdge’s Take
There are advantages and disadvantages of OTA update capabilities, but it seems that the advantages far outweigh any negatives that may come with this game-changing technology. As Tesla has shown the industry, there’s a future not too far away when most recalls may be fixed via a quick overnight update, and vehicles get better over time, helping them to retain resale value.
Are you ready to treat your vehicle more like a smartphone than a means of transportation? What do you think the outcome of this major industry shift will be for consumers, dealers and automakers? Will dealerships falter without the steady stream of vehicle service that they’re used to? Only time will tell.
Update 1/25/22: At last, Kia has announced pricing for the 2022 EV6. The base EV6 ‘Light’ starts at $40,900, plus a destination fee of $1,215 for a total entry price of $42,115 for 2022. The EV6 does qualify for up to $7,500 in federal tax credits. Will dealer markups plague the EV6 as much as they have with the Hyundai IONIQ 5? We’ll have to wait and see. Deliveries start in the coming weeks, with the EV6 being available in all 50 states.
Here’s the full price breakdown for the 2022 Kia EV6:
If you’re a fan of the impressive range and charging figures of Hyundai’s new IONIQ 5 but don’t quite get the styling, maybe it’s sibling, the 2022 Kia EV6, is the electric auto for you. After making it’s official American debut at the 2021 LA Auto Show, this sleek electric crossover is slated to hit American roads within months. The new year brings so many more EVs to the market. Here’s what makes the Kia EV6 so distinctive among its peers in the crowded electric crossover segment.
Korean Partners: Kia and Hyundai’s EV Investment Comes to Life
The 2022 Kia EV6 is built on the new e-GMP electric platform engineered by Kia and Hyundai to power their vehicles for the next several years. Previously, Kia EVs like the 2021 Kia eNiro were merely EVs adapted to a chassis engineered for a combustion vehicle. This all-new platform offers decent efficiency and range, and exceptional fast-charging speeds. We’re talking even better than Tesla! In early 2022, only the Porsche Taycan, Lucid Air and Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 are capable of charging at 800 volts. Soon, the EV6 will join them.
Considering that nearly all variants of the Porsche and Lucid cost over $100,000, it’s amazing how far Kia has come to be a leading innovator in the industry. For the 2022 Kia EV6, charging from 10% to 80% (adding about 200 miles of range) takes just 18 minutes. Early tests at InsideEVs show a peak charging rate of 239 kW at public level 3 DC fast chargers. Those are worthy bragging rights for Kia!
Over 80% of EV charging is done at home with level 1 or 2 chargers. Some drivers rarely ever use level 3 fast chargers. With a 240 volt dryer outlet, the EV6 can charge from empty to full in 7 hours. Without giving it much thought, that may sound like a long wait. How many hours each night does your car sit in your garage or driveway? With EVs, most drivers wake up with a full ‘tank’ of electricity every single morning. It’s just like plugging in your phone when you hit the hay. Plus, electricity is much cheaper than gasoline. With myth-busting charging speeds both at home and on the road, the Kia EV6 will help turn the tide in the battle between gasoline and electricity.
Specs: The Kia EV6 Is a Spacious and Sporty Crossover
The 2022 Kia EV6 has a premium feel to it, and that’s something we’re still learning to expect from Kia. If someone told me back in 2006 that in 2022, Kia would be making one of the most sought-after electric vehicles on the market, I’d be skeptical. But stepping inside the EV6 welcomes drivers and passengers alike to a sense of spaciousness. The cabin is open and airy, yet the driver’s seat and surrounding controls remain driver-focused.
Cargo room is generous at 27.7 cubic feet, or 53.5 cu. Ft. with the rear seats down. Rear passengers have ample room, and it’s slightly more than you’d expect in a traditional crossover. However, the 61” height of the vehicle is two inches shorter than its Hyundai sibling. The Hyundai IONIQ 5 has a bit more room for rear passengers.
The EV6’s front dash consists of dual high-definition 12.3” screens, one for infotainment and another for the instrument cluster. Higher trims also include an augmented reality heads-up display that projects driving directions and basic info onto the windshield within the driver’s line of sight.
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Kia is proud of the ambiance they’ve created in the EV6, and they highlight the intuitive user experience. “Convenience features such as keyless entry with touch-sensitive entry buttons, programmable driver profiles, relaxation seats and ergonomic design create an experience that puts the driver first. From the automatic flush handles that emerge from the car body, through to the intuitive touch-sensitive interfaces and the Augmented Reality head-up display, every journey in EV6 is designed to improve the human-machine interaction and promote a sense of well-being.”
The EV6’s 77.4 kWh lithium-ion battery is produced by SK Innovation, a leading manufacturer of batteries that also supplies Ford. With a curb weight of 4255 pounds, the 310-mile EPA rated range of the 2022 Kia EV6 is very good. That works out to 117 mpg-equivalent on a per unit of energy basis. That’s what you can expect from the rear-wheel drive version, which produces 225 horsepower (168 kW) and 258 lb-ft of torque, or 0-60 mph in 7.3 seconds. Adding an additional motor to the front increases power to 313 hp and a 0-60 time of 5.1 seconds, but range drops to 274 miles on a charge. Unlike combustion-powered vehicles, EVs get better range in city driving. The EV6 will likely get well over 300 miles of range cruising around town.
Pricing for the EV6
Kia has announced US pricing, and it’s just a hair above the Hyundai IONIQ 5’s MSRPs. Here’s what we know:
The Kia EV6 qualifies for the federal EV tax credit for up to $7,500, depending on tax liability. If you owe at least $7,500 in federal taxes each year, you can subtract that amount from these prices. For many buyers, the EV6 is effectively starting at just under $35,000.
Once again, as we’ve seen with the top-trim Hyundai IONIQ 5, Ford Mustang Mach-E and Volkswagen ID.4, automakers seem to be cornering buyers into a familiar shopping comparison with Tesla. Do buyers want a base-trim Tesla Model Y for about $60,000, or a fully-loaded alternative from a legacy OEM?
As of January 2022, we know that the ‘EX+’ trim options include rear-wheel drive, 310 miles of range, premium sound, heated and ventilated seats, and an onboard power generator that can power laptops, cooking devices, party lights or whatever else you need to plug in. The more premium GT line tacks on a large power sunroof, surround-view and blind-spot monitoring, heads-up display, park assist and highway drive assist, all while riding around on 20-inch wheels.
Crossover Competition: How Does the Kia EV6 Compare?
With a starting MSRP around $42,000 with destination, the 2022 EV6 will be a real contender for crossover market share. Early access owners in the UK love their cars, and many point out the advantages over the elephant in the room (Tesla). While Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y both have an ultra-minimalist dash and plain interior, the EV6 is full of gadgets and customization. Looking at the top GT-Line trims, buyers could be cross-shopping the Model Y and EV6 for roughly the same price. One big difference: Kia EVs still qualify for the current $7,500 federal EV tax credit. Which would you prefer, the Tesla or the new Kia?
Another likely challenger is the Ford Mustang Mach-E, which sold 24,791 units in America through November 2021. The Mach-E has a few more feet of cargo capacity, but many reviewers note that the ride is quite firm. Shoppers looking for a softer ride and more leisurely handling will probably prefer the EV6. Those looking for a sporty Model Y alternative may find what they desire in the Mach-E. Range figures appear to be similar between the two, but the Kia has a clear advantage when it comes to charging time.
We do know a lot about the EV6’s e-GMP platform sibling, the 2022 Hyundai IONIQ 5. With a starting price of just $40,925 and roughly the same charging and range specs as what the EV6 has to offer, buyers will find that both interior and exterior styling language is the big differentiator. Those who love a retro look with a hatchback flare will instantly fall in love with the IONIQ 5. If you prefer a sleek, aggressive-looking EV that is a family-mover in disguise, the Kia may suit your needs. And then, there’s the supply factor. In the end, whichever OEM can ship more vehicles to America may win out in terms of sales.
When Will the Kia EV6 Be Available for Purchase?
Like a few other EVs, ‘early 2022’ is about all we know for now. Select dealerships have a pre-ordering process set up, so it might be worth a stop by your local dealership. If you’re hoping to drive an EV6 home in 2022, bear in mind the threat of additional dealer markups. If you are able to place an order, have in writing the out-the-door price your dealer will commit to. Our team of consumer advocates at CarEdge is ready to help you through this very important process. Don’t let surprise add-ons and ‘market adjustments’ keep you from getting into the driver’s seat.
CarEdge’s Take
With some automakers chasing Tesla and others stuck with heartless compliance EVs and struggling to get with the game, it’s refreshing to see EVs blossoming into compelling, fun-to-drive vehicles. The one big problem we see is the prohibitive price. EVs remain out of reach for many, and it doesn’t appear that the EV6 will help on that front. But then again, it doesn’t look like a ‘cheap’ car, so buyers will have to decide if it’s worth the price.
The Kia EV6 brings a new perspective to the crossover EV segment, and it’s one that consumers should definitely check out. The level of detail that the EV6 presents in both the driver-focused interior and eye-catching exterior serves as a reminder that not everything needs to aspire to Tesla. Kia is showing that our electric future is not set in stone. There’s still plenty of room for innovation as we charge ahead.
What do you prefer, the Hyundai IONIQ 5 or the Kia EV6? Let us know in the comments, or hop on over to the CarEdge Community Forum at caredge.kinsta.cloud.
As anyone who’s fallen head over heels for one of the many 2022 electric vehicles and clicked that ‘Order’ button can attest, just because you can order an EV in 2022 doesn’t mean you can drive it home this year. This was a problem I faced myself, but I finally broke the code and got a Hyundai IONIQ 5 at MSRP (here’s how).
Soon after I began my online car search, it became clear that if I wanted a brand-new vehicle, my options were limited by availability. To make the most of the situation, I thought I’d share what I’ve learned about the availability and estimated delivery times for EVs on the market today. Here’s what we know as we kick off the new year.
Note: These are fully-electric models that can either be ordered now or purchased at a dealership today. Many more have been announced but are not yet officially available.
Make
Model
Class
Starting MSRP
Estimated Delivery/Lot Availability*
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What Does It All Mean? Supply and Demand Are Out of Whack
A few things might stand out to you on this list. Not a lot of options are available if you need a new vehicle right now. VW Group’s new EVs are available at many dealerships, although there are reports of major dealer markups. It’s quite easy to find EVs of the previous generation on dealer lots. Think Kia eNiro, Hyundai Kona EV, Nissan Leaf and the like.
The vast majority of 2022 electric vehicles are crossovers. No surprise there given the sales trends over the past decade. Honda doesn’t have a single EV arriving in the North American market until the 2024 Prologue electric SUV. That is surprising considering the popularity and good reputation of the brand. What will it take for automakers to catch up to demand? An end to the chip shortage would be a great step in the right direction. There’s also the supply versus demand factor. Ford, Rivian, Tesla and VW are all swamped with orders well into 2022, and even into 2023. All except Tesla are EV newcomers who are facing the same production ramp-up struggles that Tesla just barely survived a few years ago. We’ll update this page regularly as more information becomes available, so save it to your bookmarks!
Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comments below, or shoot an email to justin@CarEdge.com.
CarEdge Insights
