I wonder if the exact same story as the iPhone vs Nokia/Motorola/Microsoft/et al is happening in electric cars. At least the article hints at the exact same thing happening. May be folks more knowledgeable with the auto industry might be able to comment
Porsche boss faces software woes keeping VW a step behind Tesla
171–180 of 307 posts
Re: Porsche boss faces software woes keeping VW a step behind Tesla
#172> Herbert Diess’s master plan for beating Tesla Inc. hinged on replacing calloused factory hands with the nimble fingertips of 10,000 software workers who would transform Volkswagen AG into a tech player.
How can any product with 10K developers on it NOT collapse under its own weight?
Re: Porsche boss faces software woes keeping VW a step behind Tesla
#173I've been following this debacle in the German press and I think there's a structural problem that they will struggle to dig their way out of. And by "they" I don't mean just VW, but much of European industry. Software is simply not valued in Europe, and not because there aren't amazing developers there -- there are many. But software isn't considered important Let's start with cars. Back before cars were just comput…
It's interesting you mention electronics... Just this week I called out a mobile mechanic from our state automobile club here in Australia, to replace the battery in my old 911. He was really nice bloke, older guy, and we got chatting about cars. Now he reckoned that he has the most problems with European cars, most of which are considered premium or mid level brands in Australia. Always putting Euro cars on the back…
Never buy Euro cars in Australia, they spend more time in the shop, the parts cost more and you'll spend a month at least waiting for the part.
They are simply not made for the conditions here.
Re: Porsche boss faces software woes keeping VW a step behind Tesla
#174Earlier quoted context omitted.
> IMHO the only countries that really understand software at both a technical and business value add level are US, AUS, Canada, China, with India less so but in that group and Japan just barely getting in. What are Australia and Canada doing in there? Australia has… Atlassian? Besides that, I’ve only heard of developers in Aus/Canada/Japan being well paid if they work for US companies like Google or are parked there…
> What are Australia and Canada doing in there? Australia has… Atlassian? There are plenty of wellknown tech/software companies originating in Australia. Xero, Freelancer, Canva, REA Group, MYOB, Airtasker, BigCommerce, Afterpay... Many foreign software companies have development teams in Aus as well. Google, Zendesk, Square, Squarespace spring to mind. https://www.smartcompany.com.au/technology/the-top-50-tech-c...
Red Hat and (Maybe apple still) have engineering teams in Australia.
Re: Porsche boss faces software woes keeping VW a step behind Tesla
#175I don't want any of this in a car. I want analog/tactile nobs, zero connectivity, and at most a power cable and holder to plug in a smart phone. Anyone left that provides this?
I mean, buying a used 2015 model of any major car manufacturer does basically that. Sure it's "used" but it still works and you can get it cheaper.
Re: Porsche boss faces software woes keeping VW a step behind Tesla
#176Earlier quoted context omitted.
And the US will continue to eat their lunch. How many high impact software companies are coming out of Germany?
SAP. But you wouldn't want to work with SAP anyway. Death by a thousand cuts.
Pay and benefits are good, 40 h/w + extra when overtime happens, 30 day vacation,....
Re: Porsche boss faces software woes keeping VW a step behind Tesla
#177Earlier quoted context omitted.
The idea that instead of turning a tactile dial I need to look away from the road to adjust temperature or volume if music, or I need to speak, is unacceptable to me. I consider ut terrible in terms of safety and UI.
> or I need to speak, is unacceptable to me. I consider ut terrible in terms of safety and UI Speaking is terrible for safety now?
Noisy kids in the back.
People with speech problems.
Accent issues.
Driver gets annoyed, curses and looks at the dashboard touchscreen at the wrong moment....
Re: Porsche boss faces software woes keeping VW a step behind Tesla
#178Earlier quoted context omitted.
> But ("FSD" excepted) they spend more of their attention on what really matters: treating their vehicle as a modern electronic device. Yet even Tesla does a rather bad job at this — they consider it to be a modern electronic device and ignore the wheels. OTA updates regularly change the UI in a way that is difficult and dangerous to learn when the wheels are spinning. Even when familiar with it, the very basics are…
> regularly change the UI in a way that is difficult and dangerous to learn when the wheels are spinning This is also a reason why knobs are better. I can feel for knobs and operate them w/o looking.
They indeed are. One of the main reasons I paid good money for a Keychron Q6 keyboard was that it has a volume knob. So much better/faster than dealing with moving the mouse to volume icon and scrolling.
Re: Porsche boss faces software woes keeping VW a step behind Tesla
#179I've been following this debacle in the German press and I think there's a structural problem that they will struggle to dig their way out of. And by "they" I don't mean just VW, but much of European industry. Software is simply not valued in Europe, and not because there aren't amazing developers there -- there are many. But software isn't considered important Let's start with cars. Back before cars were just comput…
I think you have just convinced me to buy German cars exclusively from now on; I very much do not want a car which is "just a computer with wheels" - the less software in the car, the better!
I want to buy a Mercedes EQS but I’m going to wait until it’s been on the market for a few years.
Re: Porsche boss faces software woes keeping VW a step behind Tesla
#180I wouldn't call it "woes". I have been driving an VW ID 3 since last year, it runs their custom Android OS System and should have all of the latest features. It has been quite an experience. The car is fine, basic driving functions are fine, even the driver assist features are generally fine if they are running. The software running all the displays and the "augmented" heads up display is ridiculous. The car one did…
I've been driving a 27-year-old Range Rover for a year. Sometimes I need to hold the ignition key close to the receiver in the rear window for it to lock. Sometimes I need to jiggle the steering lock a little for the flappy door to close and tell it the key is out, before it will lock. Sometimes I need to poke the "petrol flap" button a couple of times before the flap will open. Sometimes the radio doesn't really get…
I drive a basic 2014 jetta with an old analog media center, I really never faced an issue where the car got into a faulty state.