Electric vehicles are increasingly reliant on software updates, much like smartphones, raising concerns about their longevity as hardware ages. Owners of older models, such as a 2019 Tesla Model 3, may miss out on new features like the Grok AI assistant. This shift could shorten the useful life of EVs despite their mechanical simplicity.
Since purchasing a Tesla Model 3 in 2019, the owner has benefited from over-the-air software updates that added features like real-time EV charger availability in navigation, 'Car Wash Mode' for neutral gear and disabled wipers, and even humorous fart sounds. However, in July, Tesla introduced its Grok AI assistant, powered by Elon Musk's xAI, but it only runs on vehicles with advanced processors from recent years. The 2019 Model 3 lacks this hardware, leaving it unable to support the chatbot for hands-free queries.
Traditionally mechanical, cars could be restored indefinitely, but modern EVs route nearly all functions through central touch screens, receiving updates for bugs, performance, and new capabilities. Industry experts compare them to iPhones, dubbing EVs 'smartphones on wheels.' Sean Tucker, senior editor at Kelley Blue Book, noted, “It’s becoming the ethos of the industry that everyone’s promising a continually evolving car, and we don’t yet know how they’re going to pull that off.” He added, “Cars last longer than technology does,” highlighting the mismatch: the average U.S. car is nearly 13 years old, while fewer than 30 percent keep an iPhone over three years.
Automakers must provide free safety recall repairs for 15 years, and some extend updates beyond that, but non-safety features like Grok are not guaranteed. Tucker explained, “Tesla never promised you Grok.” Nick Yekikian, senior news editor at Edmunds, warned, “Certain models are destined to age their way out of compatibility with the latest software. It’s like trying to put Windows 11 on a PC from 2010.” Future AI and autonomous features may overwhelm older hardware, causing apps to lag or become unusable.
The 2022 3G network shutdown illustrated this: Ford, Hyundai, and Audi discontinued services for affected vehicles, disabling features like remote locking and emergency SOS. Rivian's chief software officer, Wassym Bensaid, aims to design systems with 'headroom' for updates over seven to 10 years, assuring, “You’ll be able to drive your car in a stable and safe way.” Yet, the 2024 bankruptcy of Fisker left 11,000 owners without support; Cristian Fleming of the Fisker Owners Association said some vehicles “had software issues that, if not corrected, would’ve eventually made the car useless,” prompting owners to self-update. While EVs have fewer moving parts than gas cars, potentially lasting longer with battery and motor replacements, software obsolescence threatens this durability, turning minor annoyances like crashing navigation or buggy apps into reasons to trade in.