Problems were found in the software of the new Volkswagen Golf and Skoda Octavia that affect the correct functioning of the eCall system, the activation system of emergency services, mandatory in all cars marketed in the European Union since the end of March 2018.
Initially, the problems were detected in several units of the new Volkswagen Golf — it is not yet known for sure how many are affected — but in the meantime Skoda has also suspended deliveries of the new Octavia for the same reasons. For now, neither Audi nor SEAT, which share the same technical base as the Golf/Octavia with the A3 and Leon, respectively, have come forward with identical measures.
Volkswagen issued an official statement, which clarifies the problem, as well as the action already taken to resolve it:
“During the course of internal investigations, we have determined that individual Golf 8 units may transmit unreliable data from the software to the online connectivity unit's control unit (OCU3). As a result, the full functionality of eCall (emergency call assistant) cannot be guaranteed. (…) Consequently, Volkswagen immediately stopped deliveries of the Golf 8. In talks with the responsible authorities, we reviewed the necessary additional procedure for the affected vehicles — in particular, a decision on a recall and corrective action via a software update by KBA (Federal Authority for Road Transport) in Germany is pending in the coming days. ”
update is necessary
The solution will, of course, be a software update. It just remains to be seen if a trip to a service center is necessary or if it will be possible to do it remotely (over the air), a feature that is now available in this new generation of Golf, Octavia, A3 and Leon.
Despite the suspension of new vehicle delivery, production of the new Volkswagen Golf and Skoda Octavia continues, as far as possible — all manufacturers are still struggling with the effects of forced shutdowns due to the Covid-19.
The units produced in the meantime will be temporarily parked waiting to receive the software update before being sent to their delivery destinations.
It's not the first time Volkswagen has struggled with software issues. There were also reports not long ago of problems in the software used by the ID.3, the first electric derivative of MEB (dedicated platform for electrics). Volkswagen, however, maintains the initially planned launch date of its electric car for the beginning of summer.
Sources: Der Spiegel, Diariomotor, Observer.