BMW owners across Norway risk losing built-in voice control features in their vehicles following a software update that removes native Norwegian language support, according to consumer watchdogs who warn the change may violate local consumer laws. Eivind Hauge, a BMW iX1 owner from Haugesund, discovered the issue after a routine system upgrade left his car unable to understand Norwegian speech commands, forcing him to switch to English.
BMW Removes Norwegian Language Support After Software Update
According to statements confirmed by BMW, the language removal affects vehicles equipped with BMW Operating System 9 and the newer OS X. The technical shift stems from a transition to a new voice assistant supplier, Amazon Alexa, which does not currently support the Norwegian language. Carl Lindwall, BMW’s Nordic press spokesperson, stated in an email to Motor that while local navigational guidance is temporarily unavailable in Norwegian, the updated assistant can still process local expressions like Norwegian street names and personal destinations. For drivers requiring turn-by-turn voice directions in Norwegian, BMW recommends using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto as an alternative.
Forbrukerrådet Warns of Potential Consumer Law Violations and Compensation
Thomas Iversen, head of consumer rights at Forbrukerrådet (the Norwegian Consumer Council), stated that delivering a car marketed with a Norwegian voice assistant and later removing it via software updates constitutes a breach of the Norwegian Purchase Act. According to Iversen, affected vehicle owners may be entitled to price reductions. He pointed to a precedent where 115 Tesla owners secured 50,000 kroner in price deductions for reduced charging speeds, though he noted that the lack of Norwegian language support is less severe and would command a smaller compensation figure. Furthermore, Forbrukerrådet criticized BMW for continuing to market the intelligent personal assistant in Norwegian on its official website long after the software changes took effect in April.
Did You Know?
BMW Operating System 9 is integrated into several recent models including the BMW 1-series, 2-series Active Tourer, 2-series Gran Coupé, X1/iX1, X2/iX2, and X3, while OS X debuts on the new Panoramic iDrive systems such as the iX3 Neue Klasse.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which BMW models are affected by the loss of Norwegian voice control?
According to BMW, the change impacts vehicles running BMW Operating System 9 and BMW Operating System X.
Can I still use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto for Norwegian navigation?
Yes, BMW confirms that drivers wanting navigational instructions in Norwegian can access them through Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.
What does Forbrukerrådet recommend affected owners do?
According to Forbrukerrådet, customers who purchased vehicles marketed with a Norwegian voice assistant may be entitled to a price reduction under the Consumer Purchase Act.
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