Cars and Software

[Steveinarizona]

This has been a productive dialog for us. On some of these posts we've been reading about kibuki dances that users would have to perform to either unlock or wake up the car. I understand that those posts are not official comments from Lucid. But it would be helpful if Lucid monitored these forums and acknowledged the problems. On the other hand, we used to wish that Tesla did the same thing; they didn't.

Lucid does monitor this forum and does so in a public way. If other manufacturers have members monitoring their forums, I have not seen it in my previous BMW forums. @mcr16 has brought real value to this forum.

 

[tonybot]

Thanks Bobby. You're the second person to recommend that. Do you know if we will still get Over The Air (OTA) updates?

OTAs will work fine without WiFi. I have done it a few times.

 

[borski]

You do not need wifi for OTAs, although it is more stable in general. You could leave WiFi off forever in the car as long as you had fantastic cell service everywhere.

 

[mcr16]

I thought I found a workaround for the Lucid Air not waking up. I keep getting a message from the Lucid app telling me to keep the app running in the background (I believe it is).

Today, after the car wouldn't wake up after a week of reliable wake up I am motivated again to complain. Don't get me wrong...we are ex-Tesla and won't go back. We like our Air. We don't like the software. Also, I know it's early.

There was an article in the New York Times on December 15, 2024 that points out that today's car makers are facing technologies they have little experience with: "Others have struggled to build appealing electric vehicles and develop software, an increasingly important element of car design." Nailed it.

I get it. I am a veteran of the early days of real-time software design. Lots of bugs. Spaghetti code. Bad design "fixed" by "patches." Software was just not in the DNA of new systems we were designing to replace electro-mechanical systems.

It's notable that "pure" software companies such as Google, Meta and that ilk seem to have taken such enormous strides. Sure, they have their problems and users have their "wish-lists" but car makers seem to be far behind.

I hope that Lucid management is listening and is learning who their hires need to be.

Thanks for sharing. I just sent you a DM.

 

[BS8899]

Lucid does monitor this forum and does so in a public way. If other manufacturers have members monitoring their forums, I have not seen it in my previous BMW forums. @mcr16 has brought real value to this forum

The issues with Lucid Air unlocking is a good lesson for Lucid management to learn RE: consumer expectations and frustration.

I think enough multi-user complaints have shown that [1] the FOB is poorly designed with short battery live and, even with brand new batteries, showed flaky functionality, [2] the mobile app has issues of slow or non responses to unlocking the doors. [3] for me, my valet card never worked, from day 1. Lucid (@mcr16) can validate all of these claims from my service records. It is not a figment of my imagination. Initially, Lucid said it was the battery in the FOB. We were told to rub the battery terminals with alcohol. And Lucid gave me new batteries. The valet card senor (in the B-pillar) had to be replaced. And the APP worked in mysterious ways as documented by many owners. I was initially advised that the App was slowed to respond because my phone (Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra) was deficient in its Bluetooth. I don't think that's true when I had both my Rivian R1S and my Lucid in the same garage. The Rivian App Key worked flawlessly every time. The Lucid did not. My phone's Bluetooth? I doubted!

With these triad of non-functionality, it is hard to get into your car! For more than a year and a half, I had to stand there and kept pushing my door lever. That is not the way to get into a $150k car!

I have no quorums about Lucid's mechanical/electromechanical prowess. But, not being able to get into your car is not a trivial issues the owners should just suck it up! I hope Lucid recognizes that and treat SW development seriously. In a complex system such as a car, is a multitude of unintended interactions between the SW and HW nodules. It is not unique to Lucid. But it is essential for Lucid to take SW development and validation seriously. Not being able to get into your car on a daily basis is a deal breaker!

BTW, (I am not Japanese) @Science used the term "Kabuki Dance". It literally means a "Song-and Dance Routine". How appropriate!

 

[Bobby]

Thanks Bobby. You're the second person to recommend that. Do you know if we will still get Over The Air (OTA) updates?

Yes you will.

 

[DeaneG]

...Don't get me wrong...we are ex-Tesla and won't go back. We like our Air. We don't like the software. Also, I know it's early...

It's not particularly early. It took three years to move the Homelink controls so that you could close your garage door while backing out. I've been waiting nearly as long for Android Auto.

 

[Science]

Lucid does monitor this forum and does so in a public way. If other manufacturers have members monitoring their forums, I have not seen it in my previous BMW forums. @mcr16 has brought real value to this forum.

Steven: Yes indeed. I've heard from them now.

 

[Science]

You do not need wifi for OTAs, although it is more stable in general. You could leave WiFi off forever in the car as long as you had fantastic cell service everywhere.

Thanks.

I and many others appreciate how responsive you are. I wonder if you have an opinion on a related subject: Why does the car have to go to sleep? Is it because of safety? Are there moving parts that might wear out if the car doesn't sleep? Of is it only useful for reducing vampire drain?

 

[Science]

The issues with Lucid Air unlocking is a good lesson for Lucid management to learn RE: consumer expectations and frustration.

I think enough multi-user complaints have shown that [1] the FOB is poorly designed with short battery live and, even with brand new batteries, showed flaky functionality, [2] the mobile app has issues of slow or non responses to unlocking the doors. [3] for me, my valet card never worked, from day 1. Lucid (@mcr16) can validate all of these claims from my service records. It is not a figment of my imagination. Initially, Lucid said it was the battery in the FOB. We were told to rub the battery terminals with alcohol. And Lucid gave me new batteries. The valet card senor (in the B-pillar) had to be replaced. And the APP worked in mysterious ways as documented by many owners. I was initially advised that the App was slowed to respond because my phone (Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra) was deficient in its Bluetooth. I don't think that's true when I had both my Rivian R1S and my Lucid in the same garage. The Rivian App Key worked flawlessly every time. The Lucid did not. My phone's Bluetooth? I doubted!

With these triad of non-functionality, it is hard to get into your car! For more than a year and a half, I had to stand there and kept pushing my door lever. That is not the way to get into a $150k car!

I have no quorums about Lucid's mechanical/electromechanical prowess. But, not being able to get into your car is not a trivial issues the owners should just suck it up! I hope Lucid recognizes that and treat SW development seriously. In a complex system such as a car, is a multitude of unintended interactions between the SW and HW nodules. It is not unique to Lucid. But it is essential for Lucid to take SW development and validation seriously. Not being able to get into your car on a daily basis is a deal breaker!

BTW, (I am not Japanese) @Science used the term "Kabuki Dance". It literally means a "Song-and Dance Routine". How appropriate!

I think there is complaining and there is "b*tch*ng. I think almost everyone on these forums wants Lucid to succeed. Constructive complaining might be positive for the company.

 

[borski]

@mcr16 has brought real value to this forum

Yeah it sucked before them

 

[Paladin]

I've been having connectivity issues from day 1. My internet wouldn't connect but somehow now connects after the last two OTA updates. I can't make sense of this but I'm not a tech person. I, also cannot get the car to awake via the app. It's been an act of congress to get someone from my nearest service center to even answer the phone. I love this car but its frustrating not having the ability to experience all of it's features.

 

[emoylv]

The issues with Lucid Air unlocking is a good lesson for Lucid management to learn RE: consumer expectations and frustration.

I think enough multi-user complaints have shown that [1] the FOB is poorly designed with short battery live and, even with brand new batteries, showed flaky functionality, [2] the mobile app has issues of slow or non responses to unlocking the doors. [3] for me, my valet card never worked, from day 1. Lucid (@mcr16) can validate all of these claims from my service records. It is not a figment of my imagination. Initially, Lucid said it was the battery in the FOB. We were told to rub the battery terminals with alcohol. And Lucid gave me new batteries. The valet card senor (in the B-pillar) had to be replaced. And the APP worked in mysterious ways as documented by many owners. I was initially advised that the App was slowed to respond because my phone (Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra) was deficient in its Bluetooth. I don't think that's true when I had both my Rivian R1S and my Lucid in the same garage. The Rivian App Key worked flawlessly every time. The Lucid did not. My phone's Bluetooth? I doubted!

With these triad of non-functionality, it is hard to get into your car! For more than a year and a half, I had to stand there and kept pushing my door lever. That is not the way to get into a $150k car!

I have no quorums about Lucid's mechanical/electromechanical prowess. But, not being able to get into your car is not a trivial issues the owners should just suck it up! I hope Lucid recognizes that and treat SW development seriously. In a complex system such as a car, is a multitude of unintended interactions between the SW and HW nodules. It is not unique to Lucid. But it is essential for Lucid to take SW development and validation seriously. Not being able to get into your car on a daily basis is a deal breaker!

BTW, (I am not Japanese) @Science used the term "Kabuki Dance". It literally means a "Song-and Dance Routine". How appropriate!

My Touring, delivered December, 2022 is on its third fob battery. I've never used my valet card, but I think I should so I'll know what to do if the fob fails. Car lights up when I'm near it with my Samsung Android phone.

 

[pyle112]

My Touring, delivered December, 2022 is on its third fob battery. I've never used my valet card, but I think I should so I'll know what to do if the fob fails. Car lights up when I'm near it with my Samsung Android phone.

Opening my doors is hands down the most annoying experience with this car. I've narrowed my issue down to only one handle working effectively to unlock the doors (I keep proximity unlock off). Service has offered to troubleshoot at the service center but expect it could take some time to diagnose and repair. Given it's a lease, I'll just live with the issues for now and see what my options are in 6 months.
I do have high hopes for the gravity and knowing what I know I can't wait for a test drive on a production level vehicle.

 

[Buffalo Bob]

Buffalo: I think what you're suggesting fits the data. I will give it a try. On the other hand, I'm not so sure that we didn't have this problem before 2.5.x.

Hey, @Science! I wondered if you had any luck trying to wake your car after toggling off wi-fi.

 

[Vickiesa]

Leave WiFi off in the car.

Don't you need it for Over the Air updates?

 

[Bobby]

Don't you need it for Over the Air updates?

No, you do not.