How Do Over the Air Updates Work on Electric Cars?

Over-the-air (OTA) updates let a manufacturer send software improvements directly to your electric car via a mobile data or Wi-Fi connection, without you taking the car to a dealer. They can change anything from infotainment features and navigation maps to battery charging curves, regenerative braking behaviour and safety system calibrations. Tesla pioneered frequent OTA delivery and still leads, but Hyundai, Kia, BMW, Volkswagen and others now offer meaningful over-the-air capability.

What can an OTA update actually change?

This depends on the car’s software architecture. There are two broad categories of update:

SOTA (Software Over The Air): Updates to infotainment, maps, apps, voice assistant, display layouts and other user-facing features. This is the minimum that most connected EVs support and is the least technically complex to deliver.

FOTA (Firmware Over The Air): Updates to the lower-level firmware of electronic control units (ECUs), including those governing battery management, charging behaviour, thermal management, regenerative braking, traction control, motor power delivery and safety systems such as AEB (automatic emergency braking). FOTA updates require a higher level of software architecture maturity and carry more validation responsibility for the manufacturer.

Tesla supports both, extensively. A single Tesla OTA package can simultaneously update the battery management system charging curve, modify autopilot behaviour, change infotainment layout and add new features. Hyundai, Kia, BMW, Volkswagen and Volvo have similar FOTA capability, though the frequency and scope of updates vary.

Some manufacturers, including a number of legacy volume brands, currently limit OTA updates to the infotainment layer only and still require a dealer visit to update powertrain ECUs.

How does an OTA update reach the car?

1. The manufacturer’s backend prepares a signed update package, cryptographically signed to prevent tampering. The use of GDPR-compliant data protocols means the manufacturer cannot access personal data from the car in the process.
2. The update is pushed to the car over a 4G or 5G cellular connection (most EVs include a built-in data SIM) or over Wi-Fi when the car is parked at home.
3. The update downloads in the background, often invisibly. When the download is complete, the car notifies you (via the dashboard screen or a companion app) that an update is ready to install.
4. Installation typically requires the car to be parked and, for major updates, plugged in with at least 50% battery charge. Some updates complete in minutes; others run overnight.
5. After installation, the car restarts its systems and the update is active.

What improvements have OTA updates delivered?

Tesla has the longest track record. Notable UK-relevant examples:

• Charging curve improvements: Tesla has pushed updates that improved peak charging rates and reduced charge time at Superchargers for specific battery variants, without any hardware change.
• Sentry Mode and dashcam features: These were delivered as OTA features to cars that were already on UK roads.
• Battery health algorithms: Updates have adjusted charge limits, state-of-health estimation and temperature management to improve long-term battery durability.
• Autopilot and FSD (Full Self-Driving) improvements: Incremental capability updates delivered regularly to UK cars that have the hardware.

Volkswagen has delivered OTA updates that improved charging behaviour on the ID.3 and ID.4, including fixes to initial software issues that affected navigation and voice control. Hyundai updated the IONIQ 5 to improve fast-charging performance at 800V chargers and to enable Plug and Charge at compatible networks.

BMW pushed an update to its iX and i4 that improved regenerative braking responsiveness and added Amazon Alexa integration.

Which EV manufacturers deliver the best OTA updates?

Manufacturer	OTA depth	Update frequency	Notes
Tesla	FOTA (full)	Frequent (every few weeks)	Industry-leading scope and frequency
Hyundai / Kia	FOTA	Monthly to quarterly	Strong and improving; covers BMS and charging
BMW	FOTA	Quarterly	Covers powertrain on i-series
Volkswagen Group (VW, Audi, Skoda, SEAT/Cupra)	FOTA	Quarterly to bi-annual	Improved significantly since early ID. issues
Volvo / Polestar	FOTA	Quarterly	Polestar has Android Automotive as base
Mercedes-Benz	SOTA (limited FOTA)	Irregular	Powertrain updates sometimes require dealer
Renault	SOTA + some FOTA	Irregular	Varies by model generation
Nissan	Mostly SOTA	Irregular	Powertrain updates typically require dealer
MG	SOTA (limited)	Occasional	Less mature OTA infrastructure

Do OTA updates carry any risks?

Rarely, but not never. An OTA update that introduces a bug can create problems that affect driveability or features. Tesla has had to rapidly push follow-up updates to address software regressions. Volkswagen’s early ID. software was criticised for issues partly introduced or persisting through updates.

Manufacturers must certify OTA updates against the UNECE WP.29 cybersecurity regulation (applied in the UK since mid-2022), which mandates that OTA processes are secure, auditable and that software integrity is validated before installation. This provides a regulatory floor, though it does not prevent software bugs.

You can usually defer an OTA installation if you are about to use the car and do not want it mid-update. Most manufacturers allow you to schedule installation for overnight.

Can an OTA update improve my car’s range?

Yes, though often incrementally. Real-world examples:

• Tesla improved charging efficiency via OTA, meaning more energy from the grid reached the battery for the same charge session, marginally improving real-world range.
• Hyundai pushed a charging curve update to the IONIQ 5 that improved 800V charging behaviour, reducing charge time and peak heat generation, which helps the battery retain capacity over time.
• BMW updated regenerative braking response on the i4 to allow more energy recovery in certain conditions.

None of these updates dramatically transform a car’s range, but they are genuine improvements that arrive without cost or inconvenience.

What is the common mistake about OTA updates?

The myth is that OTA updates are exclusively a Tesla feature. This was true in 2015. It is not true in 2026. Hyundai, Kia, BMW, Volkswagen, Volvo, Polestar and others all deliver meaningful updates over the air, including powertrain and battery management improvements.

The related mistake is assuming that a non-Tesla EV cannot improve after you buy it. For any car with genuine FOTA capability, this is incorrect.

Should OTA update capability affect which EV you buy?

It should be a factor, yes. A manufacturer with strong OTA commitment means the car you buy today can have its charging curve improved next year, its safety features updated and its software bugs addressed without you visiting a dealer.

When comparing two similar models, ask specifically what the manufacturer’s OTA track record is and whether updates reach the battery management system. Manufacturers with poor or infotainment-only OTA records are, in effect, delivering cars that are static software products. Modern software-defined vehicles should not be.

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