It doesn't need regular updates to keep functioning. It offers regular updates as they add new features. For instance, in this update a new feature was added to allow for proximity locking at home but disable proximity unlocking. That would lessen the number of times the car would lock and unlock accidentally as you walk in and out of the garage. No one was forced to install the update.

Cars 20 years ago, even most of them 10 years ago, never got any updates unless they got recalled. Nothing broke, nothing got hacked, and most are probably still working fine.

What happened to cars today? I refuse to believe that it's solely because these are electric cars, as if the way the car stores and uses energy dictates that it must be part of the internet of things.

Edit: there were electric cars over 100 years ago. I bet they never got software updates.

There's never been any car that 100% will work in the morning when you go to the garage. It's all tradeoffs.

It doesn’t. People and these tech companies are tools. And do it largely in search of ways to take more of your money. It’s not a favor.