There are a growing number of automotive software defects being reported in line with automobiles becoming more and more electronics on wheels.

Software defect reports for only one out of 10 defects reported about a decade ago, but that number has jumped to four to five reports in recent due to the increased significance of software in automobiles as automakers put more weight on software features to improve user experience, switching from the hardware-focused approach seen earlier.

According to an analysis of recalls over the past 10 years released on Monday by the Maeil Business Newspaper, the number of software-related recalls hit 277 last year, growing 46 times over the past decade, from six in 2012. The figure accounted for 38.3 percent of all kinds of recalls, up from 7.5 percent earlier over the same period.

During the first five months of this year, 135 recalls among a total of 320, or 42.2 percent, were software-related. This analysis was made based on the 4,484 recalls, including free-of-charge repairs, reported by 66 automakers and imported car dealers and compiled by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport between 2012 and May 25, 2023.

Looking at data from the nation’s largest automaker, Hyundai Motor Co., 38 software recalls were reported this year, slightly up from last year’s 36 reports. This year’s software recalls accounted for 61.3 percent of all the total by the carmaker over the first five months this year. Hyundai only had one software-related recall back in 2012.

The increase in software defects is noticeable when looking at Hyundai’s Grandeur sedan. For the sixth-generation Grandeur IG, released in November 2016, 11 out of 31 recalls, or 35 percent, were software-related. On the other hand, the seventh-generation Grandeur GN7, released in November 2022, has seen 10 out of 14 recalls, or 71 percent, related to software, through to this month.

The growing application of advanced technology and convenient features to cars seems to be leading to more software defects. Released in January 2020, the Genesis GV80 reported 31 recalls through to this month and 20 of them, or 65 percent, were software issues. The fourth-generation Sorento MQ4 by Kia Corp., released in March 2020, has reported 15 software issues out of 26 cumulative recalls.

Imported cars are no exception. Among foreign carmakers, Mercedes-Benz Korea Ltd. had 59 software-related reports, or 44 percent of the total recalls in 2022. BMW Korea Co. reported 42 software issues, which accounted for 44 percent of its total recalls, while Audi Volkswagen Korea Ltd. reported 30 software issues, accounting for 53 percent of its total. Mercedes-Benz’s E-Class, the best-selling foreign car model in Korea, had 31 recalls last year and 16 of them, or 52 percent, were related to software.

As for software glitches, early discovery is not easy due to their intangible nature. The automotive industry is trying to catch software issues preemptively by going through simulations of various scenarios, but the innate structure, with many source codes combined with high complexity, make it practically impossible to perfectly prevent any flaws.

The global automotive industry is focusing on the transition to software-defined vehicles (SDVs), as key competitiveness in the future of cars, like connected and autonomous vehicles, lies in software. Given the relatively short period of time since software in cars became so prominent, software issues are expected to be relentless until the industry enters into a stage where the integration of software into vehicles stabilizes.

“Due to the nature of automobiles, which combines software and hardware, verification cannot be made in all cases,” said one industry insider. “Automakers’ competitiveness will depend on their ability to apply higher, stricter standards for developing key safety features, combined with swift responses to any issues.”

By Moon Gwang-min and Chang Iou-chung

[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]