The Fisker Ocean, despite its initial inclusion in Autocar’s 100 Best New Cars list, has faced significant financial troubles. As a result, it is no longer recommended and has fallen from its 98th-place finish. This situation is reminiscent of MG Rover’s demise in 2005, which Autocar experienced firsthand with a long-term test of the MG ZT. The details of the ZT’s fate are somewhat hazy, but it remained in Autocar’s possession for several months until it was collected by the receivers.
While the MG ZT was sold into the used market and found support from independent garages, the fate of modern cars, like the Fisker Ocean, may be more uncertain. The reliance on software in today’s cars for both infotainment systems and driving-critical functions presents a new challenge. Volvo EX30 owners have already rejected their cars due to software failures, and even Autocar’s own long-term Jeep Avenger Electric experienced software issues that couldn’t be traced by an official repairer.
In the past, manufacturers would hand over responsibility for repairs and maintenance to their dealer networks, but now they are expected to maintain and update the software themselves. However, there are limits to how much access can be granted to the software due to cybersecurity concerns. While there are ways to make software robust, they are often costly. This raises the question of who will be able to fix cars with unfixable software issues in the future.
The struggles faced by major car companies like Volvo and Jeep in keeping their new cars on the road highlight the challenges that may await local independent garages in the future. As technology continues to advance and become more integral to car functioning, the expertise and resources required to address software issues may become increasingly specialized and inaccessible to smaller repair shops.
Ultimately, this raises concerns about the long-term viability and support of modern cars. While classic cars like the MG ZT can still find support from independent garages and have well-known components, the same may not be true for thoroughly modern cars like the Fisker Ocean. As the automotive industry evolves, it is crucial to consider the implications of increased reliance on software and the potential challenges that may arise in maintaining and repairing these vehicles in the future.
