The term "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" is a proverb meant to teach that it is wise to leave something the way it is if it is already sufficient instead of going out of the way to try to improve it.
Try to tell that to someone who designs cars.
These days, the interiors of contemporary offerings from automakers resemble smartphones. Essential functions like the radio and climate control used to be controlled with tactile knobs and buttons, but in modern cars, drivers risk taking their eyes off the road to operate the same functions on a touch screen.
Although experts like Maserati's global head of design Klaus Busse defend the use of touchscreens by saying modern car dashboards will "look like an old [Boeing] 747" if buttons were to be used for all the different functions of a modern car, a new crisis affecting a widely anticipated new product from one of the world's most respected automakers exposes the pitfalls of making cars reliant on software.
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As per a recent report by British automotive authority Autocar, a myriad of software issues reported by owners have rendered the latest product from Geely-owned (GELYF) Swedish automaker Volvo inoperable.
The new range of issues affects the Swedish brand's newest car, the EX30, a brand new, sleek,brand new, sleek compact electric crossover SUV. Priced at $36,245 before incentives, it is the cheapest car in Volvo’s lineup and competitively priced against other electric rivals like the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y.
However, owners who have taken delivery of the Tesla-rivaling EVs have reported software issues reminiscent of those of the now-bankrupt Fisker and its Ocean SUV.
Owners of the new Volvo reported bugs, including screens going black, steering wheel buttons not responding, cars not charging correctly, and emergency braking systems randomly activating while driving.
Additionally, other owners reported that their EX30s had 'bricked,' or wholly inoperable infotainment touchscreens, incorrect time and range information displayed, systems reverting to factory settings and driver aids failing to function.
Find a radio volume, A/C temperature, or fan speed knob in this picture
Like Tesla, Volvo has embraced the "minimalist" trend, which eliminates physical controls and relies on the touch screen for many of the cabin's basic amenities. In fact, most key functions, including the headlights, side mirrors, and climate control, are accessed through the central touchscreen.
The only functions in this car that are controlled through a physical button or switch are the door locks, the windows and the hazard warning lights. Additionally, the stalks behind the steering wheel only control the wipers, turn signals, high-beam headlights, and the drive selection.
A Volvo representative told Autocar that the issues affected a small number of EX30 cars. Although they fully refunded customers for their cars, the model is still on the market in the United Kingdom, where it is a hot commodity.
“We recognize that this is not what they expect from their Volvo car, and we are working to remedy this as swiftly as possible with the minimum of inconvenience to our customers. In a very small number of cases in the UK, customers have chosen to exercise their consumer rights to return their cars," the automaker said.
"Volvo Cars strives and continues to support its customers throughout the ownership journey, and overall we continue to be encouraged by the positive feedback we are receiving from owners. The EX30 continues to be sold in the UK, and with more than 4,500 already delivered to customers this year, it is proving popular, backed by a strong order book."
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- New study suggests EVs are supercharging an impending environmental crisis
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- Ford CEO says this iconic model will "never" be an EV
This is not the first time that software bugs have plagued this specific model. The model's initial release in Europe in February 2024 was delayed in order to carry out software fixes intended to "debug" the car before hitting showrooms.
Volvo plans to bring the EX30 to U.S. showrooms in 2025, as the Swedish automaker prepares its factory in Ghent, Belgium to produce EX30 cars for stateside Volvo buyers, following landmark announcements from President Biden announced in May. Currently, the EX30 is made at Volvo's plants near Beijing and Chengdu, China.
Geely Automobile Holdings Limited, which trades under GELYF on OTC markets, has been down 3.64% since market open, trading at $1.06 per share at the time of writing.
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