How long will software-defined cars last? The auto industry doesn't know yet

The article examines the long-term durability of software-defined vehicles, using Tesla and Rivian as leading examples. It highlights how modern cars increasingly depend on complex computers, over-the-air updates, and remote diagnostics, which may make them age more like smartphones than traditional vehicles. Analysts warn that hardware can become obsolete before the car itself wears out, potentially limiting feature availability, repairability, and resale values. Tesla is cited as an example of hardware constraints emerging over time, while Rivian says it is designing cars with enough hardware ‘headroom’ to support roughly seven to 10 years of software updates and will provide safety/security updates indefinitely. The piece suggests the used-car market could split between vehicles with ongoing software support and those without, and that right-to-repair laws may become increasingly important for preserving vehicle longevity and value.