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

[nafzal80]

You're certainly entitled to your opinion, and I am mine as well. If I found that my GTS missed out on the PCM update, I honestly wouldn't care one bit. Am I suggesting that it's a bad idea for Porsche to roll this update out to older models? No, I'm simply posting here to make it clear that there are people that don't share the same views on how tech updates should work in cars. A couple posts decided to chide me for buying a car that has OTA updates if I don't like OTA updates, but as I'm sure everyone here realizes, a car purchase is almost never driven by a single point like that.

My main comment was directed at a person suggesting multiple updates per month, which I find to be excessive, not so that I could somehow cast stones at everyone complaining about not getting the update.

Tesla does not do multiple updates per month. Neither does Apple of the iOS on iPhones. Not sure why that was being argued, when it comes to actual customer products, most do not do multiple releases per month.

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[frietzak]

You can discuss alot about how they might be developing their software but that's not the main issue. It's just not a very high priority and the budget for it will be low compared to a company like Tesla.

 

[tomdfw1]

That is a software version, but I thought the PCM 5 vs PCM 6 was a hardware difference not a software version. Am I incorrect in that? Thought I read it somewhere.

I would think that the software version would align with the hardware it runs on. So if software version 5.x then hardware is 5. I could be wrong.

 

[mlambert890]

I would think that the software version would align with the hardware it runs on. So if software version 5.x then hardware is 5. I could be wrong.

PCM5, PCM6, etc is the platform generation. Within the platform there is both hardware and software. The Taycan was the first Porsche on the PCM6 platform. So far all Taycan's, including the early 2022s, from what we can see so far on this thread, have the same hardware revision. It seems that some folks have found references to a new part number which would imply that an updated PCM6 hardware unit is coming, but still PCM 6.

The platform also includes a stack of software, including the foundation "OS", as well as the apps and services that layer on top. This software stack is bundled together into a set of versions. There are at least a few core versions that have been observed on this thread.

What is coming in 2022 is two things:

1) the entire Porsche lineup moving to the PCM6 platform
2) possibly new PCM6 hardware
3) definitely a significant update to the core software

The big question for this thread is where this leaves the "early adopters" of PCM6, which is 2020, 2021 and now early 2022 Taycans. It seems early 2022 Taycans are likely to be updated, but unclear about 2020/2021. Given, though, that the early 2022s seem to have the same hardware version, there is at least some cause for optimism.

 

[SHM]

Tesla does not do multiple updates per month. Neither does Apple of the iOS on iPhones. Not sure why that was being argued, when it comes to actual customer products, most do not do multiple releases per month.

Some times they will push out several updates each month actually.
Owning both Taycan Cross Turismo and Teslas I have experience with both.

So the Tesla got several updates in december and january, also an update in february.
Many new and good features, so not just games and such.

The Taycan however kindof feels dated in comparison, trip planner for chargers,slow map UI, bad app etc.

Being a software developer I dont believe this talk about why they cant update old versions.
Hardware should be able to cope with colored icons and a trip planner, what is this? The year 1979?

 

[Scandinavian]

I think Porsche has handled the whole communication about these updates extremely badly. It is nearly a show case in Comms schooling on how not to handle releases.

And unfortunately they seem to have kept all the Porsche subsidiary and dealers in the dark as well, or they are instructed not to say anything.

I sent a message through My Porsche to ask for this information. For some reason the message was answered by Porsche GB and not France or Germany. Here is the message:

Thank you for contacting Porsche Cars Great Britain Limited (PCGB).

I refer to your recent email and advise that regrettably PCGB have not been provided with any further information regarding potential updates to the PCM in your Porsche Taycan Turbo.

We will have to wait and see, unfortunately

 

[IainSmith]

Sorry for a late reply. My CT is a model year 2022 and was built in October 2021. It has the 9J1035 unit vice the newer PAD. I wonder when they switched over to the new PCM hardware.

So collected my car.. built 15th Jan 22, MY22 model
details from the screen below.

 

[Lars]

So collected my car.. built 15th Jan 22, MY22 model
details from the screen below.

Saw your pics as well. Very nice. Did you ask (or were you very distracted by the car) re PCM 6.0 update whilst you were there?

 

[nafzal80]

So collected my car.. built 15th Jan 22, MY22 model
details from the screen below.

Weird. That user interface and software version is older than some of our 2022s that were built between October and December. You have the same hardware version as ours.

 

[sfr]

Weird. That user interface and software version is older than some of our 2022s that were built between October and December. You have the same hardware version as ours.

Pay attention that the European and American versions are different ...

 

[Skilly]

a rapid iterative approach where they release small updates vs a major release would definitely be better IMO. that is what 90% of the world has moved to - micro releases with small updates vs wait for a big one where you decided what to deploy 12 months ago and didn't have the requirements rights.

i think most would rather get a new update to the nav algo one week, and a couple weeks later get some colored icons, and then a week later get a bug fix, etc., etc., vs wait months in between updates and deal with no improvements or bug fixes during the wait.

regression testing on a micro release is always faster and easier than on a major update. too many variables all the update changes and all the hardware changes in one go is ALWAYS problematic. waterfall is a disaster, and a very dated methodology for a reason. show me a start up that uses waterfall, you won't find one. it's a legacy approach that only those that 'don't get it' use, and they continue to fall further and further behind.

porsche is struggling with just this problem. a legacy auto maker, trying to compete with new expectations of continual updates and being outpaced by start ups that are excelling in this regard.

I think it has little to do with the method that they project manage releases, except we are seeing how they lack handling bugs.

In fact, its their promotion of the software into production GA status that tells is that the quality control and testing cycle to promote from non-prod to prod is a DISASTER.

This is the kind of thing that Microsoft, or Google would have several class actions already positioned against them. There are cars returned for these currently unsolvable, and WELL documented issue(s) and they decided to litter the streets with announcements of a new release. It's actually pretty mind boggling for any car mfg to operate like this, let alone Porsche.

I'll go back to my original statements asking us to consider if this were brakes or battery. What if they randomly reset or decided to occasionally not work as designed. Like those items, the PCM is an integral part of the car, it's just that a glitch isn't resulting in a catastrophe....yet.

This isn't hyperbole.

Its well documented fact - for those saying 'hold the line, just wait. we don't know that they won't leave this unsolved. we are guessing.' etc. It's been almost 2 years of known and documented cases directly tied to this. Moreover, you can review carfax buybacks and see Porsche has even taken steps in buying these cars back and then offering them in the gray market.

They know the problem and they are choosing to avoid even a TSB to address, or acknowledge these issues. Even if they announced a fix tomorrow, it's clear up to the time of writing this, they are doing their best to avoid/ sidestep ANY accountability.

Hell, that avoidance might even be part of their project management deliverables!

 

[raharris]

Weird. That user interface and software version is older than some of our 2022s that were built between October and December. You have the same hardware version as ours.

I collected mine 12/28 and I have 3615 currently installed.

 

[Chris8536]

I think it has little to do with the method that they project manage releases, except we are seeing how they lack handling bugs.

In fact, its their promotion of the software into production GA status that tells is that the quality control and testing cycle to promote from non-prod to prod is a DISASTER.

This is the kind of thing that Microsoft, or Google would have several class actions already positioned against them. There are cars returned for these currently unsolvable, and WELL documented issue(s) and they decided to litter the streets with announcements of a new release. It's actually pretty mind boggling for any car mfg to operate like this, let alone Porsche.

I'll go back to my original statements asking us to consider if this were brakes or battery. What if they randomly reset or decided to occasionally not work as designed. Like those items, the PCM is an integral part of the car, it's just that a glitch isn't resulting in a catastrophe....yet.

This isn't hyperbole.

Its well documented fact - for those saying 'hold the line, just wait. we don't know that they won't leave this unsolved. we are guessing.' etc. It's been almost 2 years of known and documented cases directly tied to this. Moreover, you can review carfax buybacks and see Porsche has even taken steps in buying these cars back and then offering them in the gray market.

They know the problem and they are choosing to avoid even a TSB to address, or acknowledge these issues. Even if they announced a fix tomorrow, it's clear up to the time of writing this, they are doing their best to avoid/ sidestep ANY accountability.

Hell, that avoidance might even be part of their project management deliverables!

Ya um, as someone who's last Taycan Software Update almost sent me off the side of the cliff in a dead-rolling car and resulted in NTHSA interviews and recalls-- I am not ecstatic about this in any case.

 

[356B]

I collected mine 12/28 and I have 3615 currently installed.

Does 33615 have color icons showings on home screen.
Seems 3613 is still black and white icons.

Very interesting. So somewhat of a pattern emerges;
My MY21 4s has 3397 (3 icon on left)
Early MY22 Taycan on forum has 3613. (5 icon on left)
Two posters have shown/reported vver 3615 on their more recent MY22's
My soon-to-be delivered Panamera (MY22) Jan Production has 3615 Listed.

So at a minimum, seems like they would get the 3613's up to 3615. As for the MY 20/21 3397's update to 36xx remains a mystery

 

[ciaranob]

Does 33615 have color icons showings on home screen.
Seems 3613 is still black and white icons.

Very interesting. So somewhat of a pattern emerges;
My MY21 4s has 3397 (3 icon on left)
Early MY22 Taycan on forum has 3613. (5 icon on left)
Two posters have shown/reported vver 3615 on their more recent MY22's
My soon-to-be delivered Panamera (MY22) Jan Production has 3615 Listed.

So at a minimum, seems like they would get the 3613's up to 3615. As for the MY 20/21 3397's update to 36xx remains a mystery

I have 3615 and no color icons on home screen. My model 2022 build in mid-Nov 2021 - CT4S.

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