Yes but which update specifically - code name?
so basically it sounds like you got a battery upgrade ?
Where in the PCM can I check? The read out said something along the lines of software diagnostics.
It would have been in the notifications before you applied it along with download and installation instructions.
Correct. I had to initiate the install.
Ok so this is WRW1 and not WRS0 which relates to a communication update (see the other thread). WRS0 isn't yet on OTA if it ever will be.
Would you prefer your phone/tablet/laptop/IoT device manufacturer required you to book an appointment for every software update? If designed, implemented and tested correctly, OTA should never brick a device, plug there should be a revert option if the update fails. OTA also provides more uniformity, vs. dealer installations can really depend on the skill level of the techs - some may do an update in an hour, others might struggle with the same update for days, possibly resulting in swapping out parts, some of which you might have to pay for.
I just did the WRW1 (first ever such OTA since I got the car 2 years ago). Sure, when I clicked "Read Out" it started speaking in broken German and wouldn't stop until done even after I closed the notification, but after the update was done my charging limit (min) is still set to the 85% it's been since I got the car (I only use one-shot departure timers, don't have any recurring ones). It did have some issues connecting CarPlay the first time after the update - the car insisted I connect the phone via USB, but 5mins later or so it resolved and connected wirelessly.
My view is that a car can cause a risk to life.
Absolutely, a car can cause a risk of life. Taycan is a 2 ton mass traveling up to 150mph - massive kinetic energy to say the least. Sadly, nobody gets it perfect every time. Hence recalls. Some are hardware, some are software, some are both. Car have become so incredibly complex it is impossible to get it right the first time. That said, you are still getting a significantly safer car, just with possible bugs. You could opt for a Ford Model T, very simple, all the bugs are worked out, but made of wood, no airbags or other safety features (all of those just add complexity, which adds to a chance of having to fix/recall them). Some of the cold war cars also were pretty robust, but again, not many features (safety of otherwise) compared to today's cars. Welcome to the 21st Century!
This final point highlights the real issue with OTA software updates, especially for Porsche: it's really complicated to ensure each ECU (many are safety critical) gets the correct code and works without problems with all the other ECUs. Remember also that every Taycan is pretty much unique so the software requirement for updates cannot just be copied blindly across every car. For this reason I think it very unlikely Porsche will roll out any software OTA, other than simple PCM or map updates - only in the hands of the tech at an OPC can they be confident the updates are good and the car safe before it returns to the road.
Well, you may find it hard to believe, but Tesla used to make hardware changes on the production line every 2 weeks for years. This is why Tesla model year means nothing, only date of manufacture can tell you what car you're buying (a couple of weeks difference can be minor hardware changes, or huge ones). I would bet there are more different Model S hardwares than there are Taycans out in the world. They have slowed down those rapid production changes once they got into making a million Teslas a year, BUT while the myriad of possible hardware combinations and options has caused a lot of headaches for the service techs, OTA has always worked nearly flawlessly (I owned 4 Teslas over a decade, and I also work in this field). They did it right from the beginning of design, rather than treating OTA as an afterthought. To be fair, Porsche biggest impediment for proper OTA is their legacy tiered model of sourcing components, vs. Porsche's vertically integrated stack. If Porsche wants to change the speed of the seat movement in your car, they have to negotiate with a number of suppliers providing said parts and then execution takes months if not years, while Tesla just makes the change in days, because they manufacture their own seats.
Fully agree with you here. OTA updates was either not on the list of requirements when the Taycan was in development or Porsche thought they'd be able to cobble something together later.
