Quote:
Originally Posted by Boatguy54
The ICE cars have the benefit of 100yrs of learning and refinement. The iX is effectively BMW's first generation EV. It's going to take time to come up the learning curve. Better to find/fix these issues at the factory than in the field, or when you're driving on a snowy road at night.
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All true, and I own an iX 50.
However, this is, by my count, the
fifth significant hardware/software recall/stop sale since these cars were on offer in the US from last Spring, and there were more in Europe. Not counting the battery recall. I think potential purchasers realize they are cutting-edge pioneers, but the company bears
some responsibility for due diligence and QC - which, to be fair, is likely what caught this issue. Added to the abysmally slow delivery process (much beyond BMW's control), multiple software bugs and failures, no US tax incentives and the
very high "luxury" price of these vehicles, this is less than a good look for BMW. My suggestion(s) for BMW: go back, right
now, and check your supply chain and parts vendors for everything you
haven't found yet. Twice. Check your production process - you only have
one plant, so.... Hire some new/competent software engineers. Debug the current software - you
did know these cars run on software, right?
Now. Fix and start pushing OTA updates.
Now. And for that little extra, that you're charging for anyway, send out apology letters to current and pending owners. Not your fault, maybe, but you
are sorry it happened, right? And you
do know who they are, right? If you plan on selling EVs in the marketplace and with competition not on your doorstep but in the door within a year. If you plan on being in the EV business in the future, which I'm still not convinced you are, with the increasingly apparent Keystone Kops look in your production and sales process.