Volvo XC40 EV Will Feature A New Android-Powered Infotainment System

Volvo Cars announced that the upcoming fully electric XC40 SUV will come with a brand new infotainment system which is powered by Android.

According to Volvo, the new infotainment system will offer a lot of personalisation options, improved levels of intuitiveness, as well as new embedded Google technology and services.

Volvo Car Group is the first company to team up with Google on integrating an infotainment system powered by Android, with the Google Assistant, Google Maps, and the Google Play Store built-in. The two companies have been development partners for the past several years.

The new system will offer full integration of Android Automotive OS, Google’s open-source Android platform, with real-time updates to services such as Google Maps, Google Assistant, and automotive apps created by the global developer community.

The XC40 EV is also the first Volvo which will receive software and operating system updates over the air, placing Volvo Cars at the forefront of automotive connected services.

"We are finally giving you the same experience in your car that you’re used to on your phone, but adapted for safe interaction while driving,” says Henrik Green, Chief Technology Officer at Volvo Cars.

“And by introducing over-the-air updates for everything from maintenance to completely new features, the car can stay as fresh as your other digital products, always with the latest and greatest features.”

One of the best features of Android Automotive OS is that it is an Android operating system familiar to millions of developers, tailored to run in the car.

Technology and services created by Google and Volvo Cars developers are embedded in the car, while additional music and media apps optimised and adapted for cars will be available through the Google Play Store.

Besides that, Google Assistant also allows customers to get things done using just their voice for in-car functions such as controlling temperature, setting a destination, playing their favourite music and podcasts on apps like Spotify, and keeping in touch by for example sending messages.

Plus, the same map data from Google Maps will be used to improve the capabilities of the XC40’s Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) by providing important information such as speed limits and curves in the road to the car.

That said, the Volvo XC40 EV will be making its world debut on the 16th of October. The model is the brand’s first fully electric vehicle.

Setting it apart from the other variants will be a unique, covered front grille in body colour, which also neatly packages the sensors for the new Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) sensor platform.

Inside, the XC40 will feature a brand new driver interface specifically designed for electric cars, keeping drivers up to date on relevant information such as battery status, while the interior design package features sporty styling details as well as carpets made of recycled materials.

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