2026 Software Update via Dealer - What does it do exactly?

[sor]

Honestly, I’m ok with that. I’m not the kind of shopper who is choosing a car hoping it will get new, unknown features down the road. There’s only so much to be done with software anyway, which is why leasing is advantageous for someone who is looking for tech refresh.

it’s great to hear they’re going to continue providing updates and bug fixes, i do expect them to support their product.

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[daveo4EV]

2026 Software Update via Dealer - What does it do exactly?

it disables L2 AC charging in North America - this is a strategic decision by Porsche corporate to drive more customer's to FastDC charging via Porsche Charging service (EA, ChargePoint, Tesla Superchargers) - Porsche gets a cut of these charging sessions and that drive's revenue into their financial's - it's part of the new CEO's strategy to restore profitability which took a major "hit" in FY'2025…

Porsche was losing too much money on people charging at home so they decided to force them to use public charging infrastructure and to take a cut of the charging session fee's to help their bottom line…

it's a clear strategy and I'm not making this up or stirring up conspiracy theories…

or maybe I am - but the L2 charging problems with this software update could lead to such theory…https://www.macanevowners.com/forum...ate-tracking-thread.24560/page-15#post-373649

 

[daveo4EV]

Backporting is a common software term that probably only someone familiar with the nuts and bolts of development has heard.

It is actually a industry standard, as it can cost big money to backport. Not an easy business decision.

It is like moving from hardware that uses ARM processors to one that uses Intel processors. They redesigned the software to work on an Intel platform (i.e. port) along with adding features and for business reasons chose not to add the features to the old ARM software (i.e. backport). Very common.

Now if they were moving from ARM hardware to newer ARM hardware that was backward compatible it may be easier to backport.

I think VW/Porsche is moving from a less sustainable stovepipe modular architecture to a more sustainable flat architecture and we are caught in the middle.

the engineering to back port in this case is not that costly

but the Qualification Process to make sure it all works is simply HUGE in case of most automotive manufacturers and there is official recertifications required if you touch/fold/spindle/mutulate software on an existing automotive product…

there is a huge conversation about is the juice worth the squeeze when it comes to back porting automotive software to previous model year vehicle's…

 

[ColdCase]

the engineering to back port in this case is not that costly

but the Qualification Process to make sure it all works is simply HUGE in case of most automotive manufacturers and there is official recertifications required if you touch/fold/spindle/mutulate software on an existing automotive product…

there is a huge conversation about is the juice worth the squeeze when it comes to back porting automotive software to previous model year vehicle's…

Yeah, didn't want to go into details, but when I think backport engineering I'm including big money and risk for all the testing and certifications, more bug fixes. Its just the way I think as a system architect/lead engineer that routinely explained to business or marketing managers the impact of a favorite bell or whistle.

 

[daveo4EV]

Yeah, didn't want to go into details, but when I think backport engineering I'm including big money and risk all the testing and certifications, just the way I think as a system architect/lead engineer.

been there done that - I was just pointing out where the bulk of "costs" were - I would suggest the core engineering is trivial…and the _ONLY_ cost is the qualification…which is overwhelming…

we are more agreed than it would appear - but simply highlighting what "sub-part" is the real challenge in this whole affair!!

 

[pm4s]

It's far simpler than that.

Porsche already got your money = zero benefit to offer any update = zero updates to '24/'25 Macans

Porsche wants your money = can't sell the same old 24/25 Macan to new unsuspecting customers = improves '26 Macan

Sadly Porsche customers care more about the (grey) badge, 10K PTS colour, painted wheels, sportdesign packages, carbon/high-gloss trim, coloured/tinted headlights/taillights, contrast stitching, accent packages, crests/logos, illuminated headrests/badges/sill guards, coloured seat belts, leather grab handles/parcel shelve, painted keyfobs, etc. etc. than Software / OTA (2012 tech) / Reliability or Basic tech so we get what we deserve.

 

[Flying4Fun]

It's far simpler than that.

Porsche already got your money = zero benefit to offer any update = zero updates to '24/'25 Macans

There is a value in reduced code sets to manage... your overall premise may in fact continue to be true, as the cost of backporting may be considered more expensive than maintaining diverging code base, especially in the face of what might be a very similar/compatible code base to consolidate down to.

It's likely an unsophisticated reason, such as they just want to. Or resources are so thin that 'testing' just can't have the people to test to merge the code. I'm not convinced its 'just one' reason. But overall, there is value in consolidating the code base when on the surface it seems very similar, that they are literally choosing to not do it seems to be the likely reason.

I would have been pleasantly surprised if they did backport the code/features, but I have decades of car buying experience that tells me different. In the BMW world, we could code (basically turn on) features from newer cars back to older ones with the right base software and hardware... no such path for Porsche, and even BMW didn't do this, and if you had the coding, and needed a software update from the dealer you ended up with some acrobatics to revert before they could update (Such as those they put in the new digital dash hardware).

With that, I dint think there is a disadvantage to indicating to dealers and manufactures of the high interest in such things, as it will inform future development, or they might cave and do it too.

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