Tesla is first to market on a lot of fronts and has the huge first-mover advantage, but you're right, when the competition gets real the easy wins will be over.
It has been said -- many times -- that the actual major advantage of Tesla cars is that they get better over time by virtue of their software update process. While many many of the big players (VW, Toyota, Honda, etc.) are going to match specs when it comes to battery range and whatnot, I haven't seen any indications that any of them intend to follow suit with the software.
My 2 year old Toyota already feels like it is locked in the stone age when it comes to the software and features.
> While many many of the big players (VW, Toyota, Honda, etc.) are going to match specs when it comes to battery range and whatnot, I haven't seen any indications that any of them intend to follow suit with the software.
I'm hoping for the opposite, a return to basics, reliability and separation of concerns, not 3 billion lines of code running every single part of the car with a transistor - sure electric engines need some fundamental low level software and computer, and you can argue it's more fundamental to the engine than modern ICE computers.. but the whole infotainment center hub network bullshit, I'd really rather not have it all tied together, give me the machine, and independently some electrics like windows, mirrors, radio... if there must be a media center, at least make it separate from the computer that makes the car operate.
... and if you hadn't guessed, i'm obviously not an autopilot/selfdriving proponent so I don't care about that argument for integration.
In a the world of music equipment (synths in particular), it went like this:
--70s: twisty knobs and flicky switches.
--80s: We got CPU's now! Forget knobs, we got button arrays now.
--90s: We got LCDs now! Forget buttons, here's one rotary control and menus on menus.
--00s: If you pay us a lot, your menus will be on a touchscreen! Neat? No?
.....No?
:(
--10's: twisty knobs and flicky switches.
Walk into Guitar Center synth section, it's all about spaceship-kind of controls (one physical component for one parameter, and tons of blinkenlights).
It turned out (suprise!) that all those menu-driven controls are cheaper and easier to make, but were not what the users needed nor enjoyed.
These days, it's all about the analog equipment having digital control with a physical, tactile user interface (and no menus except for some niche parameters).
It really looks like cars are following the same path.
If cars are to follow synthesizers, the next step is a Eurorack-style modular dashboard where you can fit instruments and controls from a wide variety of vendors that adhere to some basic standards and interact mostly via analog voltages.
Re-patching your dash while you're driving is probably taking the metaphor a bit too far, though.
This sounds awfully lot like the car stereos from the 90 that you can change with aftermarket ones, and you can remove the front part so nobody steals it from you.
I would pay for my car to NEVER update without my express approval. That is the definition of "my" - I get to decide how and when it changes. In fact, i think i will do just that. I might pick up one of these ID cars and thus vote with my wallet.
I am no EV fanboy, but this one looks like a practical second car fit for simple short-range missions
> I would pay for my car to NEVER update without my express approval.
In case you were wondering, you opt-in to the updates from Tesla and can totally disable all connectivity if you so choose.
Virtually no one does this, because the upgrades are extremely valuable to Tesla owners and make the car accelerate quicker, brake faster, safer (constantly improving things like AEB and lane departure warning), longer range, more comfortable (suspension upgrades), and better in many other ways from minor usability tweaks (position of the phone icon in the launcher) to major functional upgrades.
OTA updates are also the only responsible way to deliver autonomous functionality.
It’s a huge asset and differentiator for Tesla. That’s not to say it won’t have detractors. E.g. Some people prefer driving stick.
yes, or more directly pull the fuse. But as the other poster said, the updates are fantastic, you get useful new functionality and my 5 year car has huge numbers of useful things that weren't in the original car.
It has been said -- many times -- that the actual major advantage of Tesla cars is that they get better over time by virtue of their software update process. While many many of the big players (VW, Toyota, Honda, etc.) are going to match specs when it comes to battery range and whatnot, I haven't seen any indications that any of them intend to follow suit with the software.
My 2 year old Toyota already feels like it is locked in the stone age when it comes to the software and features.