Volkswagen to unlock and improve features with over-the-air updates for ID. range

The first roll-out of over-the-air updates for Volkswagen’s ID. range of electric vehicles is set to come shortly, with the EV line-up becoming the first outside of Tesla’s own range to utilise the update technology.

Currently on sale in Europe, the ID.3, ID.4 and ID.4 GTX will all benefit from the ID.Software2.3 update – coming to the ID.3 first later this month.

Volkswagen says the updates include enhanced ID. light functionalities, optimised surroundings recognition and dynamic main beam control, improved operability and design modifications for the infotainment system, plus general performance and stability improvements.

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Aiming to provide updates to the ID. range every twelve weeks, VW Passenger Cars CEO Ralf Brandstätter says the roll-out is an important part of the brand’s strategy moving forward.

“Volkswagen is moving up a gear when it comes to digitalisation,” said Brandstätter.

“After the successful roll-out of our all-electric ID. family, the brand is once again leading the movement: we are creating a totally new, digital customer experience with new functions and greater comfort – every twelve weeks.

“This makes us the first high-volume manufacturer to regularly deliver extensive over-the-air updates. This is an important milestone in the implementation of our Accelerate strategy, which is preparing Volkswagen for the connected, digital mobility of the future.”

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Thomas Ulbrich, a member of VW’s board of management for development, believes over-the-air updates benefit both the manufacturer in collecting data and vehicle owners, remaining up to date and holding value.

“We established the agile project unit ID. Digital specifically to enable us to continuously update software in the car,” said Ulbrich.

“As such, we are able to quickly gather customer feedback and react flexibly to customer requirements. This means the ID. models remain constantly up to date after delivery, and customer cars retain their value better.”

Volkswagen hasn’t confirmed when or even if the ID.4 will make it to Australia, with a spokesperson recently telling WhichCar its sister vehicle, the Skoda Enyaq, may not come Down Under due to local government policies surrounding EVs.