? PCM 6 Update Announcement [Update: Retrofit Being Explored For Existing Taycans]

[mlambert890]

since this is not (yet, or at all) backward compatible, this was a very poorly thought out communication.

there was no reason for a release at all, since i doubt they are demand constrained, nor would spotify or android or some other things mention, be decidings factor in purchasing a car at this price.

all that it it did was alienate some existing owners.

This is spot on. If they don't plan to update older vehicles then why shake this hornets nest? It just rubs salt in the wound of all the folks who put Porsche on the EV map by taking a huge risk and spending massive money on the 2020s. To compound that, as others have said, Porsche still promotes the Taycan, on all of its marketing pages, as if they are Tesla, with lots of very specific language around constant OTA updates to keep the car "always fresh" (so people using the usual Porsche excuses should tell it to Stuttgart). Literally no one who wasn't already ordering a Taycan is going to say "OH MAN! SPOTIFY?! OK now I'm in!!!" You know what the smart ones might say though? "Huh... that's odd. They don't mention anything about the people that just bought the exact same car a year ago. Sounds risky"

If they're not planning to update the older vehicles then whoever approved this train wreck bit of comms should be fired.

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[Fedex77]

I disagree. The whole point of an electric car is to provide a different driving experience based on the use of the electric motors.

Besides, seems the hardware has changed from earlier posts, but I don't know how significant those are.

Where did you read that the 2020 were using a "beta PCM"? I never heard that the PCM was not a production version.

Because PCM 6 is being deployed across all Porsche models in 2022-3 while the Taycan had an early version for 2020-2021. It’s still the same generation PCM, therefore should be easily upgraded via OTA

 

[KensingtonPark]

While I find it odd that Porsche hasn’t done a better job with this, as a long time customer of Porsche and having owned many Porsches, two things have become clear to me over the years. First, Porsche’s primary focus, to a fault some might say, is the driving experience, and everything else is secondary. Second, the market has reacted so positively to this approach over the years that they really don’t care what buyers think about the other stuff. They’re making so much money and have so much demand that they don’t feel the need to improve the edges or bend over backwards in terms of customer service UNLESS it relates to the performance aspects of the car. Your motor explodes? We’ll get you a new one and extend the warranty. Your radio has a mind of its own? Talk to the hand.

Porsche offers such a great driving experience that their customer base, including me, pay ridiculous prices for their cars and put up with the edge warts. And they know we’ll keep doing it. I think if the Taycan is somebody’s first Porsche, it could be a bit of a rude awakening.

Interesting. Do long-time Porsche owners have examples of non-driving related things that Porsche has let live in prior cars? That would be helpful in expectation setting.

 

[mlambert890]

Because PCM 6 is being deployed across all Porsche models in 2022-3 while the Taycan had an early version for 2020-2021. It’s still the same generation PCM, therefore should be easily upgraded via OTA

Or if not, there should be some kind of retrofit path. Telling 2020/2021 owners, who took the leap of faith and provided the profits they needed, and the feedback they needed, to get here "sorry, sucks to be you... buy a new car" is unacceptable.

 

[mlambert890]

Interesting. Do long-time Porsche owners have examples of non-driving related things that Porsche has let live in prior cars? That would be helpful in expectation setting.

Eh, the point is totally specious IMO. This is my fourth Porsche, but the capabilities, and importance, of in car tech has been a step function increase only recently. When I started driving in the 80s "in car tech" was a radio. Even as "recently" as 2000 basic navigation wasn't really a thing. Today there is a huge expectation for integrated technology and the entire car is controlled through the PCM; this is doubly true for electric cars. You really can't compare generations of the 911 value system to the Taycan. I saw someone reference the Carrera GT. Yeah... On the Carrera GT no one is going to complain that "the PCM is slow" because, you know, it didnt have one. The Taycan is... not the Carrera GT.

 

[Reg]

Because PCM 6 is being deployed across all Porsche models in 2022-3 while the Taycan had an early version for 2020-2021. It’s still the same generation PCM, therefore should be easily upgraded via OTA

i don’t know what this is in response to. if it is my question about where did you hear it was a beta version, an earlier version does not mean a beta version. it means an earlier version. Beta is about not being a production release.

 

[batteredhaddock]

Nice to know my $140k electric Porsche is out of date after 6 months but a Tesla for 1/3 the price is still current even after several years

Yeah but the Tesla looks like a noughties company pool car and no software update is fixing that…

 

[batteredhaddock]

Wow, this topic definitely shook the forum awake, judging from the number and intensity of the replies. Personally, I think Porsche should - free of charge - retrofit/upgrade any software features that correct previously available functionality that does not work properly. It would be nice if they also threw in any new software functions or features, but I am not counting on that given Porsche’s historic business model of nickle&dime-ing its customers to the hilt on accessories and extra features.

Yep, with you on that. If I were given the choice of what their software development budget was spent on (as a customer), 100% would be on fixing and hardening existing features. I don’t give a monkey’s about coloured icons or Spotify (thats what CarPlay/AA is there for and something that actually puts me off a Tesla..but their connections need to be rock solid).

Perhaps the one exception, if it is actually accurate, is the new range software and I only say that as having just watched a Teslabjorn video on the EQA where he says theirs is good enough to not need ABRP.

 

[Scandinavian]

For those saying we should NOT expect this, or that we bought a drivers car - not a tech car etc, or that it isn't safe.

I find that argument comical and dated, Porsche set expectations and needs to evolve to current market demands or die... Porsche knows it, these quotes directly from the myporsche page for the taycan directly support the expectations that people in this thread are expressing.

"Improving your vehicle experience​

Get the latest functions from the Porsche Software Manufaktur exclusively and automatically immediately as they become available."​

​

" Continuously improve the performance of your Porsche without having to visit the workshop by performing over-the-air updates. "​

​

"Safe driving​

The highest safety standards not just on the road. Software security improvements are received and installed automatically.​

​

"Online software update​

Once activated, your vehicle will automatically stay up-to-date"​

All people are expecting is exactly what Porsche stated. Expecting them to retrofit hardware for free is unreasonable. Stating what software will and will not work on existing cars is expected. And offering retrofits for a reasonable fee is also fair and expected.

Pretty simple, Porsche should do what they said and continue to say.

That is a very good summary of all the statements that I have seen.

It would be very strong if you could link these statements to original releases or documents from Porsche. Just to have all of this ready to include in a letter to Porsche AG.

 

[Scandinavian]

This is what porsche can learn from others.
in the bmw ix x50 , you have the possibility to activate cameras and sound recording in- and outside.
You can do this by remote as well. With the bmw app.anti theft recorder, remote inside view, 3 d view, anti theft in and outside recorder views and sound. Also nice colours on apps.

Nice to see what is available from others. Just shows how much behind the market Porsche really is.

Or perhaps even more highlights how much ignorant Porsche is.

 

[Scandinavian]

This is spot on, an email to Porsche leadership with digital signature from interested folks in this Taycan Forum should get there attention to do what is right. A large number of Porsche customers with this complaint from a forum like this will get them to take action,

The problem with writing such a note to Porsche would be good IF we had a very clear statement from Porsche that no updates will be done for older models. We do not have such a clear statement at this stage.

I think we need to wait and see an official letter or statement from them. At the moment we are hopefully just speculating.

A letter to them to request a formal statement on this would be good though.

 

[kreshi]

The problem with writing such a note to Porsche would be good IF we had a very clear statement from Porsche that no updates will be done for older models. We do not have such a clear statement at this stage.

I think we need to wait and see an official letter or statement from them. At the moment we are hopefully just speculating.

A letter to them to request a formal statement on this would be good though.

Well, seems like nobody cares. Everyone made their mind up that Porsche won’t update anyone’s car and it’s just Porsche bashing after Porsche bashing. I too think it would be a huge fuck up if they don’t Update older models, but so far we have zero evidence of their actual plans…

 

[Arjan_]

Wow, this topic definitely shook the forum awake, judging from the number and intensity of the replies. Personally, I think Porsche should - free of charge - retrofit/upgrade any software features that correct previously available functionality that does not work properly. It would be nice if they also threw in any new software functions or features, but I am not counting on that given Porsche’s historic business model of nickle&dime-ing its customers to the hilt on accessories and extra features.

Totally agree. I have decided to issue an official complaint about the software glitches / bugs I am experiencing now and then, to maintain my rights also outside the warranty period. I have also asked how they are going to solve it as in July 2022 it is two years ago that the car was delivered to me. Imho two year should be enough to fix the software bugs (I am not asking for new functionality but I want that the funtionality I bought works every time and not most of the times)

 

[Scandinavian]

Totally agree. I have decided to issue an official complaint about the software glitches / bugs I am experiencing now and then, to maintain my rights also outside the warranty period. I have also asked how they are going to solve it as in Juy 2022 it is two years ago that the car was delivered to me. Imho two year should be enough to fix the software bugs (I am not asking for new functionality but I want that the funtionality I bought works every time and not most of the times)

This is exactly what I have done already. I only want that the PCM functions that I was promised, should work. I have written to both the MD of the group where I bought my car. The actual sales person left the company as well as the branch manager.

I also sent a formal letter, plus email, to the President of Porsche France. I am giving them about a week to respond and if not even an acknowledgement at that stage it will be handed to a solicitor.

Of course I would like the new options for filtering out useless 50 kW chargers (some of the ones used by navigator have been Closed for nearly two years now.

I just want a reliable system with

Traffic information, none available now
Internet Radio,
Apple Music
My seat and mirrors set as I have set them
My favourite radio stations as I have selected them, staying in the system.
Porsche Charging service in the navigator
Communication with the Porsche servers and connect app
Calendar app working
News app
Weather working , probably also needed for the navigator to plan charging stops etc.

These functions have been available every time after a workshop visit, but only last about two weeks and then fail.

My warranty is only two years here and runs out in May.

 

[feye]

Likewise, I'm not fussed about new features but I do want bugs fixed.

Exactly. I really wonder, why after 2 years they cannot fix the bugs.

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