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But they are not a software company at the core. They need to be to pull this off.

by ElijahLynn 4y ago

cududa 4y ago
I mean their self driving tech seems to be the most impressive out there
- LanceJones 4y ago
  Umm, no. I tried their Drive Pilot L3 system in Germany over the Christmas holidays (MB EQS) and of 8 hours driving, it was only available for me to drive for 12 minutes (and not a continuous 12 minutes, either). Granted this does not mean the system is poor quality, but it's horribly impractical... if it's rarely to ever available.
  - cyberlurker 4y ago
    It sounds like they are more responsible than the other companies.
    - hackernewds 4y ago
      Exactly. Using your customers as guinea pig data collectors for an undeveloped system seems to be the go-to. There have been noted fatalities due to this.
- Cipater 4y ago
  What are you basing this assertion on?
orbifold 4y ago
Both Mercedes and Volkswagen have absolutely massive software divisions, easily 10k+ people. They pay really well for German standards and have access to a large talent pool of people that would like to live in Germany.
- rad_gruchalski 4y ago
  Big and well paid doesn’t equal quality. The fiasco of id3 is the best example. Or the whole Audi/VW drama. It doesn’t change the fact that their management just doesn’t get software. Pouring more money over that and hiring more “talent” isn’t going to change that.
  - ryandrake 4y ago
    Most hardware companies are not known for good software. They treat software like it's just another line item on the BOM: Like a bolt or a screw. Procure it as cheaply as possible, scoop it into the product on the assembly line, and make sure it passes a few checkboxes and you're done. Unless they see software as a core differentiating product feature that drives purchases, their quality bar is going to be "barely good enough to not cause a product recall".
    - mantas 4y ago
      These days even most software companies ain't known for good software :D There's very few quality software products these days. And that's usually just a temporary state before eventually a product gets messed with :(
  - pbasista 4y ago
    > The fiasco of id3 Could you explain what specifically you refer to?
    - rad_gruchalski 4y ago
      https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/11/21288572/volkswagen-id3-ev-delay-software-vw-herbert-diess https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/11/21288572/volkswagen-id3-e... + general search for "software id3" shows that issues plague this car to this day. Diess lost his job because of that: https://www.theregister.com/2022/07/26/from_beetles_to_bugs_vw/ https://www.theregister.com/2022/07/26/from_beetles_to_bugs_....
- ulfw 4y ago
qotgalaxy 4y ago
[dead]
SkyPuncher 4y ago
Can you elaborate on why they need to be?

But they are not a software company at the core. They need to be to pull this off.

cududa 4y ago

I mean their self driving tech seems to be the most impressive out there

LanceJones 4y ago
Umm, no. I tried their Drive Pilot L3 system in Germany over the Christmas holidays (MB EQS) and of 8 hours driving, it was only available for me to drive for 12 minutes (and not a continuous 12 minutes, either). Granted this does not mean the system is poor quality, but it's horribly impractical... if it's rarely to ever available.
- cyberlurker 4y ago
  It sounds like they are more responsible than the other companies.
  - hackernewds 4y ago
    Exactly. Using your customers as guinea pig data collectors for an undeveloped system seems to be the go-to. There have been noted fatalities due to this.
Cipater 4y ago
What are you basing this assertion on?

orbifold 4y ago

Both Mercedes and Volkswagen have absolutely massive software divisions, easily 10k+ people. They pay really well for German standards and have access to a large talent pool of people that would like to live in Germany.

rad_gruchalski 4y ago
Big and well paid doesn’t equal quality. The fiasco of id3 is the best example. Or the whole Audi/VW drama. It doesn’t change the fact that their management just doesn’t get software. Pouring more money over that and hiring more “talent” isn’t going to change that.
- ryandrake 4y ago
  Most hardware companies are not known for good software. They treat software like it's just another line item on the BOM: Like a bolt or a screw. Procure it as cheaply as possible, scoop it into the product on the assembly line, and make sure it passes a few checkboxes and you're done. Unless they see software as a core differentiating product feature that drives purchases, their quality bar is going to be "barely good enough to not cause a product recall".
  - mantas 4y ago
    These days even most software companies ain't known for good software :D There's very few quality software products these days. And that's usually just a temporary state before eventually a product gets messed with :(
- pbasista 4y ago
  > The fiasco of id3 Could you explain what specifically you refer to?
  - rad_gruchalski 4y ago
    https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/11/21288572/volkswagen-id3-ev-delay-software-vw-herbert-diess https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/11/21288572/volkswagen-id3-e... + general search for "software id3" shows that issues plague this car to this day. Diess lost his job because of that: https://www.theregister.com/2022/07/26/from_beetles_to_bugs_vw/ https://www.theregister.com/2022/07/26/from_beetles_to_bugs_....
ulfw 4y ago

qotgalaxy 4y ago

[dead]

SkyPuncher 4y ago

Can you elaborate on why they need to be?