"If we moved to an open model where anyone could modify the software in their car - what do you think would happen to the safety and reliability of that software? I don't think any of us could imagine that it would improve."
1. 99.99 percent of the owners of these automobiles wouldn't have a clue to even where to access, or what to do with the code? Most can't find their AlDl, or OBD plug.
2. Most mechanics out there don't know much about car computers, and 99.9 % know nothing about programming. When something goes wrong with the computer; they just replace it. When I was in automotive school, the failure rate of car computers were 1 in a million. I think that's low though? Mechanics just replaced the computer--hopeing they got the right one. The one in the vechicle was usually fine, but was shorted out by fat fingers, and hangovers.
In real life, when a mechanic, usually erroneously blames the automobiles computer, as the fault of the problem, he/she just replaces it. Their biggest achievement is not shorting the new computer in by installing it. Of course when they short out the computer, they blame the computer as defective, and charge the customer.
Dealership mechanics(some) can reflash their particular brand of vechicle computer/computers, but they don't code anything. They push a GUI button, and answer yes, or no questions the enginneers at corporate programmed.
As to propriatiry software, it's not about safety, and reliability. It's about customers being held hostage to the dealership. You buy a fancy car, with a bunch of do-dads on it. You can't just bring your ailing car to any independent mechanic. They don't have access to the computer system. Most wouldn't have a clue to the actual code, but they need trouble codes. These trouble codes are being held hostage. The dealer will happily fix your car, but at dealer prices.
Even if people abused the open source software(affecting emmissions), it would be caught at the bi-annual smog check? As the safety, the automobile companies would love to blame tampered with software in order to lessen their liability? (It sounds like it would be pretty easy to test for altered code, on the manufactures end?) For years now, I can buy computers that improve a vechicles performance, but it's just not worth not passing an emmission test--in my view.
So, I don't think it's about safety, It's about greed.
And maybe other factors; like they don't want the Programmers peering into their horrid code. Code that defeats smog checks. Code that reuses other manufactures patents--without payment? Code that is just terribly written, and causes numerous accidents, and thefts?
Again, I don't want much. I just don't want to essentally lease my vehicle after buying it with cash? What? Yes, because no one other than the Dealership can work on it at $170 hr. The idependents will attempt to work on my new vechicles, but they never seem to solve the problem. Why should they, they don't have the information! These automobiles have gotten so complicated, even your dealership mechanic is usually figuring out your cluster of sensors on your dime. It's gotten to be quite a racket? I forsee acres, and acres of newer automobiles that are junked because they aren't worth fixing? Give out trouble codes? Give out a service manual with every new car sale. Tell the customer up front, "I will see you again sir, for many years--let me program all our dealerships into your GPS?" "I hope you never lose that high paying job?" "Your so good looking, why would you ever want to get your cute hands dirty working on that dirty automobile?"
Give me access to my computer on my car, at least the trouble codes, and access to a reasonably priced scan tool? I'll even sign a waver--if that's the problem?