latest MK4 Garmin map update

[ColinB]

Just thinking aloud here, but I wonder if there’s a logical reason for the updates being free. There’s now a requirement for cars to have speed warnings (the bongs when you exceed the posted limit), and it seems likely that the satnav forms part of that system (otherwise how would the car know the limit where there are no signs, eg in urban 30mph areas?). So satnav might be essential to comply with the law. Charging for updates might be seen as blocking people from updating, and hence encouraging rule-breaking, and perhaps Honda don’t want to be seen to be doing that. Just musing though, I have no evidence or authoritative source.

[Lord Voltermore]

I'm not surprised Garmin continues update longer than expected.  Even though  Honda paid Garmin a cut price for the mapping deal.
 
Garmins own standalone products get map updates 4 times a year. . The Honda/Garmin deal only ever got updates once a year, if that.     Garmin still have all the costs of keeping the maps updated for their own  standalone customers  .    Allowing Honda customers to continue occasionally download a map they have updated anyway   costs them little extra financially.
 
But if they suddenly pull map update support on Honda cars it  would  increase the number of owners who are already  using  cheaper and  better alternatives  via their  phone etc.  Inevitably reducing Garmins   reputation and future share in the satnav market.   

[coldstart]

Garmins own standalone products get map updates 4 times a year. .

In your dreams! - I have a "live-time-map-update" stand-alone Garmin DriveAssist 50 (which doubles as a dashcam) and I can sincerely assure you that the map updates are far less frequently than quarterly!

[Lord Voltermore]

IIRC Garmin map updates were this  frequent for my Standalone device. But its along time since I last updated it.   Maybe standards have dropped. I had read that mapping companies  are struggling to get updating done at a cost they are willing to pay, even in  low wage economies.
(the Garmin in my 2021 car sometimes   displayed locations in what I think must have been Pinyin  (ie Chinese characters  converted into Roman letters  that may depict a word by how it sounds rather than  correct local spelling (eg  Kalay for Calais) 

My standalone Garmin was originally sold with 'free updates for life'.  I had visions of still getting free updates when I am 100  .   Garmin then changed the definition to 'For the life of the device'.    Fair enough, I've got 30 year old tech in cupboards that would still be working  (tomorrows antiques  )  Garmin again changed the definition to  ' for the design life of the device'.  In other words Garmi can stop updates whenever they want if they consider its obsolete.  Or claim its up to date because the 10 year old update is the most recent they have issued. .