With the rising digitalisation in autos, the place software program controls many vital and non-critical features, OTA updates characteristic has develop into a cornerstone of recent autos because of its profound affect on comfort, car performance, and long-term buyer satisfaction. The expertise is reworking the automotive trade by enabling producers to wirelessly ship software program enhancements, repair bugs, safety patches, and even add new options on to a car, revolutionizing car upkeep, and lowering the necessity for bodily service visits to dealerships.“OTA expertise considerably reduces downtime, enhances consumer expertise, and permits producers to patch vulnerabilities or introduce new options post-purchase, thereby extending the car’s lifecycle,” explains Pushpahas Joshi (EVP & Member of Government Board, Head of Related Merchandise & Options), KPIT Applied sciences.
Sudhir Kataria, Head – IT, JSW MG Motor India, mentioned “Within the Indian auto trade, Over-the-Air (OTA) replace capabilities have develop into a defining characteristic of superior autos. The autos with Over-the-Air (OTA) capabilities carry game-changing benefits comparable to updates for infotainment and navigation – saving clients the effort of service centre visits whereas slicing prices for producers. OTA additionally retains autos up-to-date with new apps guaranteeing a greater and extra fashionable driving expertise. With out OTA, autos depend on guide updates, that are slower, dearer, and restrict enhancements after buy.”
Right now, JSW MG Motor has expanded OTA capabilities throughout its portfolio – MG Hector, the ZS EV, the MG Astor, the MG Gloster, MG Comet and MG Windsor. JSW MG Motor has been one of many main gamers in providing related car expertise with OTA replace options within the nation.
Among the different notable automotive fashions providing OTA updates characteristic embrace Tata Motor’s Harrier and Safari, Maruti Suzuki’s Vitara Brezza, Baleno, XL6, Ertiga, and Fronx, Mahindra’s XUV700, Kia’s Seltos, and Toyota’s City Cruiser Taisor. Hyundai Motor India has additionally introduced plans to equip all its new fashions, together with EVs and choose ICE autos, with OTA replace capabilities by 2025.
The OTA system leverages safe connectivity—be it Wi-Fi, LTE, or 5G—to push updates from a centralised cloud server to particular person autos. These updates are usually downloaded and saved till the car is idle, at which level they’re put in, guaranteeing minimal disruption and strong safety. At the moment, OTA updates primarily handle infotainment programs, navigation, telematics, diagnostics, efficiency tuning, and driver help programs (ADAS), paving the best way for a seamless and environment friendly consumer expertise.
Nonetheless, the longer term scope of OTA capabilities is expansive. It’s anticipated to incorporate superior ADAS enhancements and security options, enhanced personalisation comparable to customised driver settings, local weather management, and show configurations. Moreover, discover IoT-enabled functionalities that assist good cities, clever highway infrastructure, and futuristic parking programs. For EVs, OTA might optimize battery administration with improved algorithms for preservation, charging cycles, and vary extension. Furthermore, powertrain calibration updates might additional improve engine efficiency and gasoline effectivity, making OTA updates a vital characteristic requirement for autos.
Furthermore, OTA updates characteristic has an affect on the service trade and opens up quite a few new alternatives as nicely. “With OTA, conventional service wants for software-related points might cut back, reshaping after-sales providers. Service centres will doubtless pivot in the direction of dealing with {hardware} and mechanical repairs or provide subscription-based providers to generate income,” shares Joshi.
He additional provides that the OTA updates characteristic might additionally rework the insurance coverage panorama by making autos safer and lowering accident charges by fixed software program enhancements. “Insurers might begin providing decrease premiums for OTA-enabled vehicles, which might obtain real-time security updates. Additional, OTA connectivity might assist usage-based insurance coverage (UBI) fashions, the place insurance coverage premiums are adjusted based mostly on driving behaviour information obtained through OTA updates.”
“For the service trade, OTA shifts the main target from routine software program fixes to extra advanced repairs and diagnostics. Whereas it reduces the necessity for bodily visits, it additionally challenges the trade to rethink buyer engagement, guaranteeing a stability between comfort and connection on this evolving panorama,” highlights Kataria.
On the advertising entrance, OTA-enabled autos provide OEMs a unique approach to market their merchandise as dynamic and future-ready. “Advertising messages can now emphasise not simply what the automotive is however what it might develop into over time, stressing flexibility, longevity, and connectivity,” highlights Joshi. For example, producers can place them as SDVs which can be “upgradeable,” serving to appeal to tech-savvy clients searching for long-term worth. “It might additionally result in new pricing fashions like “car subscription” making autos accessible to a bigger inhabitants.” He shares that highlighting OTA capabilities of a car would develop into a key promoting level for OEMs.
