Ford Motor Co. in Dearborn today announced its all-new, all-electric Mustang Mach-E will be able to update over the air without leaving home. The company also has developed a way to allow updates to download in the background and, in some cases, the updates can be completed in less than two minutes.
“The beauty of the Mustang Mach-E is that what our customers experience on day one is just the beginning – it will evolve to add even more features and capabilities over time,” says John Vangelov, connected services manager at Ford. “Our clever over-the-air updates also minimize downtime through incredibly fast activation and ensure your Mustang Mach-E is always getting better, even when you’re asleep.”
Nearly all Mustang Mach-E computer modules can be updated wirelessly, so Ford can provide performance enhancements and add new features that might not exist when customers first receive their vehicles.
Some installations will be virtually invisible to customers, who can select a regular time, such as the middle of the night, for updates while their Mustang Mach-Es are parked. Many updates will be completed almost immediately after owners start their vehicles, and in-vehicle alerts will tell them what improvements have been installed. More complex updates that might require the vehicle to be parked for longer can be scheduled to take place when customers find it most convenient.
Ford expects to deliver its first updates within six months after the first Mustang Mach-E vehicles are delivered. Owners will receive notifications detailing software updates when they are available, which can be applied using either Wi-Fi or cellular connections, depending on the update.
In 2020, Ford plans to begin equipping most redesigned vehicles in the U.S. with advanced over the air update capability for wireless upgrades designed to enhance quality and capability and improve the ownership experience while reducing dealer trips.
Ford’s engineering team has found new ways to develop and test over the air updates in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Previously, teams would have to get together to access the different vehicle modules needed to test capabilities, but the team set up remote access to all vehicle modules. What initially took five hours to program remotely now can be done in under 10 minutes.
“By quickly implementing remote access to our vehicle components, we’re ensuring our Mustang Mach-E customers can enjoy the great capabilities they’ve been looking forward to from the start, while providing the accommodations our engineers need to continue innovating from the safety of their homes,” Vangelov says.
The Mustang Mach-E was introduced in November and is expected to be available this fall. As of March, the vehicle had reservations from all 50 states.
