We are regularly asked the following question: “What do you recommend as an electric car? “. It is difficult to answer this question quickly because it depends on the budget, the needs, the context… but to tell the truth, apart from these considerations, the Tesla brand is obvious. Why ? Exactly, we are going to answer this question.
THE SOFTWARE, THE ADVANCE OF TESLA
If there is one subject in which Tesla does not disappoint, it is software. Their software approach is totally new in the automotive industry. Tesla is far ahead of everyone else in the auto business and that’s one of the problems. The competition is not bad, especially when we see the Mégane E-Tech with Android Automotive, or the future interface of the Volvo EX90. But overall, automakers are lagging far behind, at least, in really giving Tesla new ideas and surpassing Tesla in software.
You are going to tell me, but, why? First of all, the vast majority of vehicles cannot perform over-the-air (OTA) software updates other than the infotainment system or navigation software data. At Tesla, updates are common and bring both fixes and optimizations, but also new functions. It is an approach identical to that which we know on our smartphones, with even more regular updates. These software updates also save Tesla a fortune by avoiding costly callbacks. Same observation during the semiconductor crisis, Tesla adapted its software according to the parts available so as not to have to slow down production.
Then it’s smooth. Very fluid. If we have talked so much about the processor that powers the Tesla infotainment, namely an AMD chip on the latest models, it is because the latter offers exceptional performance (for a car). Unlike most vehicles on the market which have Android Auto or Apple Carplay on board, and which thus delegate computing power to the smartphone, Tesla has decided to assume its independence from these two tech giants. He therefore needs all the computing power possible in his infotainment system, today, but it also needs to be efficient over time.
We should also note the importance of software for after-sales. This, arguably, is where the real benefit of having such tightly integrated software lies. Retrieval of the diagnosis and remote correction, Tesla can thus offer a personalized approach and act quickly. Everything is managed from the app. Exactly, let’s talk about the application. It certainly offers many more functions than what competitors offer. You can give temporary access to your friends, turn on the air conditioning or heating remotely, launch the sentry model to guarantee increased surveillance and so on.