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I wish that US car manufacturers would finally realize that they're software companies with a hardware device, and pivot accordingly. The differentiating facto

I wish that US car manufacturers would finally realize that they're software companies with a hardware device, and pivot accordingly. The differentiating factor between car models is not the hardware in the world of EVs. It's the software. And right now, if you aren't either on Tesla, Rivian, or Polestar the software experience is horrific.

kristopolous 2y ago
I used to be in the space. Basically everyone would install an SBC behind the dash to listen to the canbus and then report things over cell often with ways of shorting a circuit in order to do features. It's whackadoodle. I mean how different are cars, really? They have wheels, doors, windows, odometers, go places at various speeds, need fuel ... you'd think there'd be some agreed universal baseline like MIDI ... you'd think. And the manufacturers held on to their protocols like they had done their own Manhatten project so everyone just had to backwards engineer things. Why is inoperability so precious? Ultimately the purchasing decision is the car's price, features, availability, terms of the deal... The phone app has nothing to do with it, let it go.
znkynz 2y ago
This mindset gets the Demister function buried in a touchscreen. I don't want a touchscreen for most driving related functions; buttons or switches thanks.
margalabargala 2y ago
Plenty of car companies have realized the don't have core competency in software and simply run Android with some addons. Chevrolet for example does a fairly good job of this. Tesla has some great software ideas, and awful execution. Yes, they have the ability to continuously improve vehicles after sale and they use it. But they use it to scramble the climate control location every third month, and to charge subscriptions for hardware their customers already bought.
conk 2y ago
I don’t want to drive a computer. I want to drive a machine. Give me some buttons to control the car and a decent screen for nav (CarPlay/android auto) and I’m happy.
- pabs3 2y ago
  All cars are computers, since at least 20 years. At minimum they do central locking, cruise control etc.
jfim 2y ago
It's coming. Ford and GM have started to build more software in house, while VW is partnering with Rivian partly to get their software expertise.
- chgs 2y ago
  The problem car companies have is if they are beholden to android and apple then they are at the mercy of whatever those two want to charge.
  - mikestew 2y ago
    Apple doesn’t charge for CarPlay (can’t speak to Android), so I’m unsure what you’re referring to.
    - chgs 2y ago
      For now. If I’m generous to car companies they don’t want to be beholden to a third party duopoly. If I’m not then they want to monetise with typical surveillance capitalism.
      - mikestew 2y ago
        For now. Oh, that old canard: “yeah, but just you wait!” I live in the present, and I’ll deal with the facts as they are today, not some hypothetical future offered up to win an argument.
        chgs 2y ago
        People who are unafraid of picking are now paying how much to Broadcom? Makes sense for car companies to keep options open.

kristopolous 2y ago

I used to be in the space. Basically everyone would install an SBC behind the dash to listen to the canbus and then report things over cell often with ways of shorting a circuit in order to do features. It's whackadoodle. I mean how different are cars, really? They have wheels, doors, windows, odometers, go places at various speeds, need fuel ... you'd think there'd be some agreed universal baseline like MIDI ... you'd think. And the manufacturers held on to their protocols like they had done their own Manhatten project so everyone just had to backwards engineer things. Why is inoperability so precious? Ultimately the purchasing decision is the car's price, features, availability, terms of the deal... The phone app has nothing to do with it, let it go.

znkynz 2y ago

This mindset gets the Demister function buried in a touchscreen. I don't want a touchscreen for most driving related functions; buttons or switches thanks.

margalabargala 2y ago

Plenty of car companies have realized the don't have core competency in software and simply run Android with some addons. Chevrolet for example does a fairly good job of this. Tesla has some great software ideas, and awful execution. Yes, they have the ability to continuously improve vehicles after sale and they use it. But they use it to scramble the climate control location every third month, and to charge subscriptions for hardware their customers already bought.

conk 2y ago

I don’t want to drive a computer. I want to drive a machine. Give me some buttons to control the car and a decent screen for nav (CarPlay/android auto) and I’m happy.

pabs3 2y ago
All cars are computers, since at least 20 years. At minimum they do central locking, cruise control etc.

jfim 2y ago

It's coming. Ford and GM have started to build more software in house, while VW is partnering with Rivian partly to get their software expertise.

chgs 2y ago
The problem car companies have is if they are beholden to android and apple then they are at the mercy of whatever those two want to charge.
- mikestew 2y ago
  Apple doesn’t charge for CarPlay (can’t speak to Android), so I’m unsure what you’re referring to.
  - chgs 2y ago
    For now. If I’m generous to car companies they don’t want to be beholden to a third party duopoly. If I’m not then they want to monetise with typical surveillance capitalism.
    - mikestew 2y ago
      For now. Oh, that old canard: “yeah, but just you wait!” I live in the present, and I’ll deal with the facts as they are today, not some hypothetical future offered up to win an argument.
      - chgs 2y ago
        People who are unafraid of picking are now paying how much to Broadcom? Makes sense for car companies to keep options open.