Google Earth ending December 2020 for 2018 models or older

[AlisoA4]

No it's not a breach of contract. Audi doesn't say anywhere that they guarantee the service for X number of years or anything like that.

Mmmmno, maybe they don’t but..... when it stops working, is it not a defect?

I already know the answer. No. It’s unfortunately not a defect, because it’s intentional.


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[JohnEnglish]

No it's not a defect. The stopping of service is intentional. There is no guarantee of the continuation of service for X number of years.

[Oloung1]

Gotta be honest and say I am not a fan of this self deflating tech that is now in cars. Unlike a lot of things, not even the hardware can be partially upgraded to fill the gaps between the cars I buy.
So with this said, I don’t need or want much because why get attached to things that instead of getting better, go away?
Seems that Audi would be wise to get ahead of this somehow, losing a feature they advertised so heavily across that many cars is a potential customer loyalty and PR nightmare.
Brutal Audi, brutal....

this is so pathetic from a marque that sells itself as the technology innovator, yet cannot solve it's own in-house problems before designing the "greatest and best" tech systems to create a solution for problems that don't exist . i'm swearing myself off of ever making a purchase again from the vw/audi family due to the increasing revolving door mentality of treatment towards their current customers. this is why audi will always and forever be a second tier "luxury" marque.

thankfully, audi has been faithful in maintaining their famous understeering chassis in all of their lines while manufacfurers like lexus has started leap frog audi in the interior design, construction and aesthetics - all at the same time making vehicles more natural than pushing under heavy acceleration. when it's time to replace my 2014 s4, it's definitely not coming from the audi line.

[Uncle Buck]

This issue is simply one more reason to never pay for a factory nav and connection services (unless you need a mobile hot spot for wifi). As a product like WAZE now works with both CarPlay and Android Auto, these obsolescence issues go away. Audi responded by making Virtual Cockpit/Nav standard in many Premium Plus trims for 2019. Otherwise the take rate may have approached zero.

[DCEsquire]

Does anyone know if the MMI/Maps has change in the current 2019 model? Will it change in 2020? I feel like the A4 had a great tech upgrade in 2017 but now it's beginning to feel dated when compared with the competition (both Audi's new models MMI and competitors).

[MadAboutCars]

This sucks. My google earth maps will stop working before my car is even out of warranty. This was a listed feature of my RS6 and my wife's 2018 SQ5. Man, I'm not happy about this at all.

[CyberPMG]

Seems that Google Earth maps have stopped working already? Noticed yesterday I never had an option to switch over to Google overlay in my 2015 S5.

[rgobantes23]

I have not used my SQ5 for over a week but I just checked the maps. Google Earth overlay is still working on my 2018 SQ5.

[UAL225]

This is totally unacceptable by Audi. I have a 18 S5 sportback. The in-service date started less than 2 months ago. The car is literally 1.5 month old, and you’re telling me that in 11 months time the feature that I was sold with the virtual cockpit which I paid extra for will no longer be available?

I purchased a 70k car from Audi because of the technology and the brand name. But clearly Audi doesn’t care about their customers because they don’t care to rectify this but rather have it lapse.

My cellphone or iPod touch from years past still updates google maps yet Audi cannot develop a patch that can be rolled out at the yearly inspection? I’m sorry a car which is still under manufactures warranty and all of a sudden the main component of the MMI is no longer supported?! Why wasn’t I informed at the dealer about this? This is predatory sales tactics on parts of dealers and Audi USA not disclosing this to customers. This needs to be rectified ASAP, this is unacceptable Audi.

[rgobantes23]

There are people on this thread that say continuation of service is not guaranteed and the little asterisk note on Audi of America's website is sufficient. Their excuse is the MMI will still work without the Google Maps overlay.

[AlisoA4]

This is totally unacceptable by Audi. I have a 18 S5 sportback. The in-service date started less than 2 months ago. The car is literally 1.5 month old, and you’re telling me that in 11 months time the feature that I was sold with the virtual cockpit which I paid extra for will no longer be available?

I purchased a 70k car from Audi because of the technology and the brand name. But clearly Audi doesn’t care about their customers because they don’t care to rectify this but rather have it lapse.

My cellphone or iPod touch from years past still updates google maps yet Audi cannot develop a patch that can be rolled out at the yearly inspection? I’m sorry a car which is still under manufactures warranty and all of a sudden the main component of the MMI is no longer supported?! Why wasn’t I informed at the dealer about this? This is predatory sales tactics on parts of dealers and Audi USA not disclosing this to customers. This needs to be rectified ASAP, this is unacceptable Audi.

I couldn't agree more. Audi markets and sells their cars as being particularly high tech, and yet they are supposedly not able to support Google Earth after a certain date under the premise that it is Google who changed "something" so Audi's hardware suddenly becomes obsolete.

I don't buy that excuse.

Unfortunately I think the reality is that Audi has decided to end their contract with Google for whatever reason. I bet Audi is hoping that not a lot of Audi owners will notice, nor complain.

[AlisoA4]

Their excuse is the MMI will still work without the Google Maps overlay.

I've been fed that response from Audi as well and I can't accept it. Imagine if this was a matter of, say, the leather used in the cabin: It's is as if Audi is saying "Yes, the leather will suddenly fall off the seats, but you can still use the seat so it's not an issue"

[CyberPMG]

Seems that Google Earth maps have stopped working already? Noticed yesterday I never had an option to switch over to Google overlay in my 2015 S5.

OK.... checked a day later and was working. Weird that I didn't have the option for a day!

[Ltngbg99]

Complete BS. Had no idea feature would disappear less than 2 years after purchase. I sent statement of my disgust to Audi. We should be compensated it this can truly can’t be updated. Even better update the software, the deal with Google, even the hardware in a recall like fashion if needed.

[rgobantes23]

I've been fed that response from Audi as well and I can't accept it. Imagine if this was a matter of, say, the leather used in the cabin: It's is as if Audi is saying "Yes, the leather will suddenly fall off the seats, but you can still use the seat so it's not an issue"

I agree with you. I am still not over this issue even after almost a year since this thread started. I made sure my credit card is removed from my Audi Connect account so Audi will not automatically renew when my service agreement ends December 2019. I also hope to make a decision on my SQ5 by then.

[Quattro17]

I just learned about this today, and I am disgusted as well. I have a heavily optioned $90k+ 2017 Q7 Prestige, and it is really aggrevating to lose this feature which was a major selling point for the car when I bought it less than 18 months ago. I understand that technology is always a moving target, and it is not unreasonable to expect that, after a few years, a vehicle that was bleeding edge in 2017 is no longer bleeding edge in 2019. I get that. But that is not what’s happening here.

Here we have a vital technology feature of the vehicle that is being orphaned when it is still perfectly viable and was a major selling point of the vehicle. The feature is likely being orphaned for cost reasons. (I really don’t believe that the technological hurdles are too great for this to be fixed by a company with the resources of VW Group.) An existing feature of the vehicle should still work in 2019 as it did in 2017. We are talking about vehicles that are in many cases only months old and still under warranty for crying out loud!

Correct me if I am wrong, but I think the 2017 Q7 was the first Audi to offer the virtual cockpit. The car was advertised as a technological tour de force with the high-resolution virtual cockpit, and Google Earth 3D mapping a vital part of the car’s appeal.

Others have mentioned that some other navigation features can be accessed via Android Auto and Apple Car Play. I do use Apple Car Play for some things like music playback and Siri for hands free calling, but it is not fully integrated with the cars systems. Apple navigation does not display maps in the virtual cockpit screen, and neither does it integrate with the car’s heads up display.

I feel that Audi should offer a solution, or owners should be compensated accordingly. As others have pointed out, this affects resale value certainly, and it affects brand loyalty as well. Perhaps an attorney could chime in here about the viability of a class action lawsuit. In my mind this all comes down to money. If Audi wanted to fix this with a software update or a new maps chipp, they could do it. If we don’t pressure them, we’ll likely never see a fix.

[ManyAudis]

I just learned about this today, and I am disgusted as well. I have a heavily optioned $90k+ 2017 Q7 Prestige, and it is really aggrevating to lose this feature which was a major selling point for the car when I bought it less than 18 months ago. I understand that technology is always a moving target, and it is not unreasonable to expect that, after a few years, a vehicle that was bleeding edge in 2017 is no longer bleeding edge in 2019. I get that. But that is not what’s happening here.

Here we have a vital technology feature of the vehicle that is being orphaned when it is still perfectly viable and was a major selling point of the vehicle. The feature is likely being orphaned for cost reasons. (I really don’t believe that the technological hurdles are too great for this to be fixed by a company with the resources of VW Group.) An existing feature of the vehicle should still work in 2019 as it did in 2017. We are talking about vehicles that are in many cases only months old and still under warranty for crying out loud!

Correct me if I am wrong, but I think the 2017 Q7 was the first Audi to offer the virtual cockpit. The car was advertised as a technological tour de force with the high-resolution virtual cockpit, and Google Earth 3D mapping a vital part of the car’s appeal.

Others have mentioned that some other navigation features can be accessed via Android Auto and Apple Car Play. I do use Apple Car Play for some things like music playback and Siri for hands free calling, but it is not fully integrated with the cars systems. Apple navigation does not display maps in the virtual cockpit screen, and neither does it integrate with the car’s heads up display.

I feel that Audi should offer a solution, or owners should be compensated accordingly. As others have pointed out, this affects resale value certainly, and it affects brand loyalty as well. Perhaps an attorney could chime in here about the viability of a class action lawsuit. In my mind this all comes down to money. If Audi wanted to fix this with a software update or a new maps chipp, they could do it. If we don’t pressure them, we’ll likely never see a fix.

Quattro17 you are making some pretty strong statements. You do realize that the navigation system will continue to work and you will still have maps and traffic, the only thing you are losing is the Google Satellite view overlay? There have been a large number of people both in this forum and others who think that all of the nav maps are supplied by Google Earth and that they will lose navigation through the VC when this ends in 2020.

By the way, I do agree with you that Audi should continue to offer a feature which was heavily promoted at least through the 3-5 years that the typical first owner will have the car, whether the feature is critical or just fluff. And if for some uncontrollable technical reason they cannot do this on a pay feature like Audi Connect, the price of that service should be reduced to account for the loss of the feature.

[rgobantes23]

Quattro17 you are making some pretty strong statements. You do realize that the navigation system will continue to work and you will still have maps and traffic, the only thing you are losing is the Google Satellite view overlay? There have been a large number of people both in this forum and others who think that all of the nav maps are supplied by Google Earth and that they will lose navigation through the VC when this ends in 2020.

By the way, I do agree with you that Audi should continue to offer a feature which was heavily promoted at least through the 3-5 years that the typical first owner will have the car, whether the feature is critical or just fluff. And if for some uncontrollable technical reason they cannot do this on a pay feature like Audi Connect, the price of that service should be reduced to account for the loss of the feature.

ManyAudis, I think you are also missing many people's point on this thread. The Google Maps overlay may not be a big deal for you. But it is for some people. If they like the normal navigation then they would not bother with posting their frustration on this thread so please stop saying VC/MMI would still work even without the Google Maps overlay. The Google Maps overlay was a major selling point when they bought their Audi vehicles. Many of the same people, including myself, would not have bought their vehicles if they knew a major feature would no longer work in the near future.

[AlisoA4]

ManyAudis, I think you are also missing many people's point on this thread. The Google Maps overlay may not be a big deal for you. But it is for some people. If they like the normal navigation then they would not bother with posting their frustration on this thread so please stop saying VC/MMI would still work even without the Google Maps overlay. The Google Maps overlay was a major selling point when they bought their Audi vehicles. Many of the same people, including myself, would not have bought their vehicles if they knew a major feature would no longer work in the near future.

X2


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[Goon82]

I've been looking at used 2018 S4's and am not sure how this works. From my googling it looks like it's a feature of Audi Connect, so if you don't pay for that service it wouldn't work anyway? Is that correct?

[Audibot]

I've been looking at used 2018 S4's and am not sure how this works. From my googling it looks like it's a feature of Audi Connect, so if you don't pay for that service it wouldn't work anyway? Is that correct?

That's correct. I didn't have Google Earth overlay until I subscribed to Audi Connect back in April (bought the car in March). Still, it sucks and if I can't have the overlay, I'd want a discount on my Audi Connect.

[A4Ferrari]

people purchased/leased a car just so you can subscribe to a subscription service? interesting .. what on earth did people do before any of these convenience features?

no matter how much money you spend on cars from Ferrari to Audi tech changes .. people also don't know that after a car is 10 years old the manufacturer doesn't need to provide parts ...

[AlisoA4]

no matter how much money you spend on cars from Ferrari to Audi tech changes .. people also don't know that after a car is 10 years old the manufacturer doesn't need to provide parts ...

I understand your point but I respectfully disagree. We are talking about a highly advertised feature being discontinued after 2 - 3 years (not 10) and Audi seems to have a "too bad so sad" cavalier attitude when approached about the topic.

[rgobantes23]

.. what on earth did people do before any of these convenience features?

The same thing people did when the modern toilet was developed. But some people chose to keep using outhouses.

[Audibot]

people purchased/leased a car just so you can subscribe to a subscription service? interesting .. what on earth did people do before any of these convenience features?

no matter how much money you spend on cars from Ferrari to Audi tech changes .. people also don't know that after a car is 10 years old the manufacturer doesn't need to provide parts ...

With that attitude, you must still be using a flip phone from 10+ years ago.

[AlanZz]

I've been looking at used 2018 S4's and am not sure how this works. From my googling it looks like it's a feature of Audi Connect, so if you don't pay for that service it wouldn't work anyway? Is that correct?

Don’t have to use Audi connect for google earth.
You just need an active connection from your car SIM card or ur phone wifi

[stwu]

Don’t have to use Audi connect for google earth.
You just need an active connection from your car SIM card or ur phone wifi

Really?! I thought you need Andi Connect in order to have Google Earth overlay. Do you mean if I stick a sim card in my MMI module to have the data connection, I can automatically have Google Earth on my Virtual Cockpit and MMI?

[stwu]

Also, I talked to my Audi technician at my dealership about MY18 or older for the lack of support of Google Earth Overlay in 2020. I asked if the hardware could be upgraded to support that. He said it’s not the hardware issue; it’s the software issue. The hardware is clearly sufficient to be able to handle the Google Earth Overlay. He said because of Google’s update, the MMI software isn’t compatible to support that. What Audi needs to do is to release an update of the software in order to support the Google Earth Overlay. I wonder if Audi would do that?

[AlisoA4]

Also, I talked to my Audi technician at my dealership about MY18 or older for the lack of support of Google Earth Overlay in 2020. I asked if the hardware could be upgraded to support that. He said it’s not the hardware issue; it’s the software issue. The hardware is clearly sufficient to be able to handle the Google Earth Overlay. He said because of Google’s update, the MMI software isn’t compatible to support that. What Audi needs to do is to release an update of the software in order to support the Google Earth Overlay. I wonder if Audi would do that?

THAT makes far more sense than the corporate line I’ve been fed by Audi North America.

A software update ought to be doable as long as Audi WANTS to


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[Audibot]

Google to Audi:

[stwu]

THAT makes far more sense than the corporate line I’ve been fed by Audi North America.

A software update ought to be doable as long as Audi WANTS to


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Yes, this technician was very helpful and nice. I had technical questions about my 2018 A5 Sportback which I purchased in Dec 2018 and since the sales person didn’t have time, the service dept got a technician to talk to me. I took that chance to ask a bunch of questions. I specifically wanted to find out if I could upgrade my MMI hardware in order to use Google Earth overlay. I wonder by 2020 Audi would either let us upgrade the MMI or release a software update. I think we should just keep checking with Audi.

[Audibot]

While Audi could commit resources to it, I can completely see them not doing so. Why fix it if they think they can squeeze you into a newer model?

[AlisoA4]

While Audi could commit resources to it, I can completely see them not doing so. Why fix it if they think they can squeeze you into a newer model?

This, sadly, is likely what they will choose to do.


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[stwu]

But not everyone is going to upgrade from their 2018 model to the newer model that fast? Do they really expect people to want Google Earht overlay that much to buy a new car?

[Group_B]

From what I heard, it's a hardware issue that prevents Google Earth from being offered after 2020. The reason the 2019 models have the tire jack in a bag unceremoniously dumped on the trunk floor is that the spot where the jack previously resided under the floor has been taken up by the new electronics needed for all this stuff.

Edit: There was a mention of this over on AW. The first ~275 RS5 Sportbacks for 2019 were built in July 2018 before the hardware changeover, and thus got a credit on the window sticker to compensate for the missing feature going forward.

[AlisoA4]

From what I heard, it's a hardware issue that prevents Google Earth from being offered after 2020. The reason the 2019 models have the tire jack in a bag unceremoniously dumped on the trunk floor is that the spot where the jack previously resided under the floor has been taken up by the new electronics needed for all this stuff.

I’ve heard that too but it just doesn’t make sense. I can’t see why it would be impossible to provide updated software for the existing MMI system, outside of Audi deciding it’s too expensive for them.




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[stwu]

I’ve heard that too but it just doesn’t make sense. I can’t see why it would be impossible to provide updated software for the existing MMI system, outside of Audi deciding it’s too expensive for them.
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It doesn’t make any sense at all. If Google changed their software, there is no reason why the hardware can’t handle it. If the Audi technician said it could and it would be up to Audi to decide to whether to issue a software update to enable the older models to work with Google. If not, I wonder if we could just upgrade the hardware. The Google Map overlay is the only feature that would be left out in December 2020.

[Audi USA]

I just wanted to chime in and make everyone aware that I am paying close attention to this issue internally due to all of the discussion and dissatisfaction on this topic. If new information becomes available rest assured I will provide an update.

[DrGER]

While we'll be sad to see the pretty Google Earth overlay go away on our MY2014 A4 in Dec 2020 (if we keep it that long), that problem will be moot when AT&T pulls the plug on their 3G data network -- all those MMI 3G Plus devices with nothing to talk to. I can't imagine seeing an official fix for that (apart from third-party solutions). But that's another topic.

[rgobantes23]

Really?! I thought you need Andi Connect in order to have Google Earth overlay. Do you mean if I stick a sim card in my MMI module to have the data connection, I can automatically have Google Earth on my Virtual Cockpit and MMI?

I think AlanZz is referring to pre-virtual cockpit Audis. I was able to use a prepaid Truphone data sim to get Google Earth overlay (and other functions that required data service) on my 2017 Q3 MMI.