A system for multi-mode connectivity for group vehicle activity and for over-the-air updates via time synchronized device-to-device side-link communications is provided. The system includes a remote communication device configured to transmit data, vehicles to receive the data, and a computerized controller. The controller includes programming to analyze hardware of the vehicles to identify alpha vehicles including excellent wireless capabilities, monitor signal strength between the vehicles and the remote communication device to identify vehicles including relatively strong communication strength, and determine a portion of the plurality of vehicles including highly functioning vehicles including the capabilities and communication strength. The controller generates a series of data transfers to first transfer the data from the remote communication device a highly functioning vehicle and subsequently transfer the data from the highly functioning vehicle to a second of the vehicles and transfers the data. The highly functioning vehicle retransmits the data to the second vehicle.