Ford Mustang Mach-E: Cloud connection keeps software updated (OTA – Over the Air Updates)

The new, fully electric Ford Mustang Mach-E is always kept up to date thanks to mobile software updates that can also be implemented from home.

Many updates take less than two minutes and some will go practically unnoticed by customers – thanks to an innovative platform with a cloud connection.

The secure software updates serve to continuously improve the entire vehicle, from the voice-controlled communication and entertainment system SYNC to driving characteristics and comfort details.

Ford Mustang Mach-E – (photo by Ford)

Digital technologies are developing at a rapid pace. But owners of the new Ford Mustang Mach-E do not have to worry about being left behind in terms of software. Because mobile, wireless software updates, so-called “over-the-air” updates, ensure that the software of the fully electric SUV always stays up to date. Whether voice-controlled communication and entertainment system SYNC, the driving characteristics or general comfort features: Almost all computer modules of the Mustang Mach-E can be updated wirelessly – and literally from anywhere, including from home. The bottom line is that Ford will be able to provide future improvements and new features for the Mustang Mach-E that may not have existed in the future,


Ford expects to be able to offer the first updates within six months of the sale of the first examples of the fully electric SUV. Customers receive a notification of new software updates at the respective time of availability and, depending on the type of update, can then install them either via Wi-Fi or a mobile connection.

Quite a few of the updates are loaded and activated in the background and also in less than two minutes. In the case of more complex software updates, the transmission of which takes a little longer and / or where the vehicle must be parked, the customer can specify desired times for the updates – for example at night when the Mustang Mach-E is in the garage. The majority of the updates activate themselves immediately after the vehicle starts and the vehicle owner is informed in the car of the improvements that have been applied in the meantime. In this context, Ford has developed an innovative, cloud-based platform on which the updates can be downloaded safely. This platform keeps the current software running until a new version is available.

Ford Mustang Mach-E over the air updates – (screenshot by Ford)

“The nice thing about the new Ford Mustang Mach-E is not only its high level of technology at the time of purchase, but also its ability to continuously develop through our clever over-the-air software updates and thereby become ever better – even at night when the customer is asleep,” says John Vangelov, Connected Services Manager, Ford Motor Company.

New ways of working digitally

To ensure that the new Ford Mustang Mach-E can go into production as planned, the Ford engineering team has found new ways to develop and test the over-the-air updates despite the corona pandemic. Until now, the teams had to physically come together in the same room to access the relevant modules of the vehicle – but due to pandemic-related security requirements and the need for a home office, the specialists had to quickly think of something new to get ahead with their work: the team set up remote access on digitally connected vehicle modules and created a development environment that enables software programming from home. In some cases, the newly designed processes even led to an increase in work efficiency.

“We have managed to ensure that our software specialists can continue their work from the secure home office despite the current problems caused by the Corona virus,” said Vangelov.

Author: Nabeel K
Email: nabeel@wheelsjoint.com



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Joe googIe
Joe googIe
1 year ago

Vin
FORD mustang