There are 1.3 million BMWs (divided by twenty models) that today remotely update their software. It is the absolute record for a car manufacturer, given that the upgrade will involve a number three times higher than that of the Tesla in circulation that have been using this system for some time to improve and update the operation of their cars.
BMW’s “Remote Software Upgrade” will cover four countries and will affect all cars with the BMW ID 7 Operating System. Customers will now have a more intuitive map search system and many of the features available in their car. Alexa they already know and love to use at home: add items to shopping lists, check the news, play music or control compatible smart home devices.
BMW software updates remotely
Twenty models, 1.3 million BMWs remotely update the car’s software
“Many don’t think about the fact that our cars today have between 50 and 60 compute units,” he says Jochen Kurbjuweit, BMW senior manager remote software upgrade, “including rather high performance computers, which control, regulate and measure everything from steering wheel to navigation. It is a complex system of different functions, which obviously benefit from constant improvements that keep the car always up to date and in step with the times. This is where the over-the-air function comes in: it allows us to offer these improvements with extreme ease, just like with other devices you know and use. “
The average size of a BMW Software Update package is around 800 MB. However, the exact size depends on the model of your car and the specifics of the update, for example depending on whether you are updating from the latest version of BMW software or from an earlier one.
Going into detail, the Maps navigation system, cloud-based for the first time, makes route calculation significantly faster and more dynamic, combining real-time information and predictive models. The cloud also contains additional information on over 120 million points of interest such as ratings, opening hours and images. The POI (points of interest) database is updated several times a week, at short and regular intervals. The simplest method of entering the destination is via dialogue with the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant.
Not only that: the Munich giant also continues the development and implementation in new markets of the My BMW App and the Mini App presented recently and which – a rare case in the automotive world – is developed completely in-house by BMW itself. thanks to the fact that the BMW Group software development team is one of the largest in the world after that of Google, with a total of 300 employees.
It is no coincidence that My BMW App is already present in 30 European markets, China and Korea, and will now be available with further expanded functionality in Japan, Australia and 10 other countries. My BMW App will also be launched in the US and Canada from mid-April, making it available on five continents. The situation is somewhat different for the MINI App, present in 33 markets (mainly in Europe), is now also available in the United States, Russia, Japan, Australia and 17 other countries, and will also be available in China from April 2021.
The most important function in both cases is linked to the functionality of the BMW and Mini hybrid or electric cars. For example, through the new App, which offers additional features for electric vehicles compared to the previous App, customers can now access an overview of the range, the charging status and the history of previous recharges. The timer functions for charging and air conditioning available through the app then allow you to optimize the charging process by setting particular time slots and departure times.
In short, keeping the software up-to-date brings obvious benefits. But above all, it is a way to make sure that the level is always the desired one and that everything is up to date with the news, as far as digital is concerned. It ensures that every function has the best possible code. So it’s not just a question of digital maintenance: when you think about it, the car improves over time.
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