Hi, I'm from Jaguar Land Rover's SOTA Release and Operations team.

Given there is so much discussion around vehicle software updates and with a number of key updates coming this year for vehicles equipped with Pivi / Pivi Pro, I thought it would be helpful to provide some further information around this topic.

SOTA (Software-Over-The-Air) technology allows us to update multiple ECUs (Electronic Control Units) within your vehicle, such as Pivi/Pivi Pro, Powertrain, Chassis, Drive Assistance Systems and Charging/Battery Management modules (on applicable vehicles).

There are 3 types of updates:

1. Automatic Updates: Whilst driving, updates are installed in the background with no effect on the usage of your vehicle. It’s installed to a second partition of the corresponding ECU. The ECU has two partitions, one is updated whilst the other is in use. The next time the vehicle starts, the module switches to the newer version and the original is retained as a back-up.

2. Manual Updates: Where the vehicle requests you to click ‘Update now’ or ‘Schedule’, the update will install after locking the vehicle or at the time selected. During the advised installation time, the vehicle cannot be driven. These updates can either be for individual modules or include a pack of updates across multiple modules.

3. Manual Updates with T&Cs: These updates require you to agree to the Terms & Conditions before installation can begin. This could be due to any updates to the original Pivi / Pivi Pro T&Cs. Once agreed, the system will then follow the regular update process.

Every time you drive the vehicle, it checks for updates - assuming you are in an area with network or Wi-Fi coverage. In this case, you do not need to initiate anything from the vehicle.
Automatic updates will automatically download, preinstall and require no pop-up to be accepted. When you next use your vehicle, it will be running on the updated software. You can see the information about the update contents in the software updates menu.

Manual updates will automatically download. Following the download and any preinstallation, you will be presented with a pop-up at ignition off prompting you to update now or schedule. You can go directly to the software updates menu and select update now or schedule from there.

After clicking update now, you can leave and lock the vehicle.

The vehicle will wait 10 minutes before proceeding with the update, to give you time to go back to the vehicle and drive away if you need to (this will stop the update from proceeding).

After 10 minutes has passed, the vehicle will wake up and perform the pre-condition checks to ensure it is okay to proceed with the installation.

The vehicle checks multiple things, including, but not limited to:

Windows closed: To ensure the vehicle is secure - just make sure you have closed all windows fully. Even if the windows look closed, it’s still possible one could be very slightly open and easily missed resulting in the update not able to take place.

Battery charge: There must be sufficient 12V battery charge for the install to succeed, whilst ensuring there’s plenty of charge remaining in the battery to allow the vehicle to be started multiple times. The charge requirement varies by update, depending on how long the install will take. If for example, the update is very large and you have driven multiple short journeys, the update may not proceed. Reattempt the update after you have performed a long journey.

PHEV Vehicle connected to a charger: Currently updates are not supported whilst the vehicle is plugged into a vehicle charger. We hope to remove this restriction in a future update.

Network connection: The vehicle will check the server prior to installation to ensure the update is still valid. This can happen via the vehicle’s internal eSIM or Wi-Fi. If Wi-Fi is selected and connected, it will prioritise Wi-Fi. Therefore, if you have issues, try disabling Wi-Fi as the signal may be insufficient or could be affected by other devices in/around your home. If using the eSIM, is the vehicle parked where there is network connection? If your vehicle is fitted with Pivi Pro and in markets where connected services are included (e.g. real time traffic information) check the signal strength indication for Pivi Pro in the area under the clock on the touchscreen prior to vehicle shutdown. Note: Whilst the telematics module which connects to the cloud for downloading SOTA updates uses a separate connection to the one Pivi Pro uses (in applicable markets), in most cases this can be used as a guide.

Ambient temperature: The update will not proceed in extreme temperatures (-10 and below) due to increased drain on the battery.
OBD (On-Board Diagnostics) check: As the updates are performed across the internal vehicle network, the update cannot proceed if there is something plugged into the OBD port, as this could interact with the vehicles internal network.

Scheduled events: If you have something scheduled like climate pre-conditioning during the time of a SOTA update, the update will not proceed.

Once the install checks have been passed, the vehicle then initiates the installation. If you attempt to start the vehicle at this time (estimated install time is shown on the screen when clicking update now), it will appear to be dead. You can lock and unlock, but if you attempt to start the car, nothing will happen. (In an upcoming release it will display that software is installing)

When returning to the vehicle, you will see a notification saying either the update did not proceed (this means one of the prechecks did not pass) or that the update has been successful.

It's also worth noting that not all vehicles receive updates on the same day, we release updates in batches. If you see a fellow group member with the update ahead of you first check all the above and then secondly just continue to drive your vehicle. It should eventually receive the update. Also depending one th software your vehicle was built with, certain updates may not be required for your vehicle.
I hope that helps.