End of Sensus Support

[Tatsfield]

This is by no means urgent but I felt it would be worthwhile starting a thread to draw attention to the impending ending of Volvo support for map updating on the Sensus system. While I feel that this is disgraceful, the purpose of the thread is not for whingeing. Apparently, after 2020 there will be no new maps issued for the built-in Sensus system. This means that little by little owners will not be able to safely rely on their Volvo supplied navigation system. In the case of spare parts in Europe, manufacturers have to stock all parts for 10 years after a car ceases production. This does not seem to be the case with free issue software and Volvo are pulling the plug on their Sensus system regardless.

There are three possible courses of action that I see.

1. Owners bite the bullet and accept that their cars no longer have built-in navigation systems and buy stand-alone sat nav units and plug them into the car's electrical system and stick them on the windscreen. I had to do that with my previous cherished car but in that case the system dated back to the 1980s and was a very poor system at that. The Sensus system has its shortcomings but it is fully effective and to abandon it seems a shame.

2. Organise the largest possible campaign to lobby Volvo to encourage them to reverse their decision and to continue to support a system which is built into the cars that they sold. Amongst our membership there must be someone with the understanding of public relations, publicity and social media to apply pressure upon Volvo before the abandonment of the Sensus system is a done deal.

3. Is there someone who can investigate whether it is possible to change the software and use maps from ongoing sources. This is a long shot and for me an area well beyond my abilities, but the concept that software in the sat nav system could be re-written to allow the display system and the receiving aerial to operate and display a supportable GPS system would allow these high quality cars to continue to deliver what Volvo offered and are now about to withdraw.

I cannot say that I personally can do very much about headings 2. and 3. but at least I can open the debate which can perhaps enable someone who can bring about an effective solution to deliver what Volvo seems unable to do and enable me from having to go down the route of heading 1.