The curse of modern cars: a software bug can cost a fortune

Demand for electric and other alternative powertrains is growing

According to the 2025 Mobility Barometer, passenger cars will continue to play a central role in daily use, with 86% of people in Europe owning at least one car. While 10% of vehicles in 2023 were electric and other alternative powertrains, 13% will be electric and other alternative powertrains in 2025.

Internal combustion engine vehicles continue to dominate, accounting for 86% of passenger cars, but in some countries, such as Germany, Italy, Portugal and Spain, ownership of hybrid and electric models is increasing. In addition, one in four Europeans continues to consider buying an electric vehicle.

Software dependency is a problem

Modern cars on the road today are increasingly software dependent, which can lead to errors during various updates. Most vehicles have touchscreens and digital controls, which can often slow down, freeze or lose their touch sensitivity. Various driver assistance systems, lane departure warning, emergency braking assistance, distance control cruise control, but also various sensors: cameras and radars can fail.

Sensitive components can also cause problems that make the car undriveable. The most common cases include a discharged or faulty battery. A frozen on-board system can prevent basic functions from functioning. A discharged key can also cause problems if the car does not open or start. It may happen that the automatic transmission does not shift into gear or the electronic handbrake gets stuck. In electric and hybrid cars, there may be a fault with the charging or charging connector.