Volvo Cars to Launch Vehicles with Latest Android Software Ahead of Rivals
- tech360.tv
- May 23, 2025
- 1 min read
Volvo Cars has become the lead development partner for Android automotive software, deepening its decade-long collaboration with Google.
The Swedish carmaker will now gain early access to new Android versions, allowing it to integrate the latest features into its vehicles well before competitors.
Alwin Bakkenes, Volvo’s Head of Global Software Engineering, said the partnership would enable the company to deliver new capabilities and experiences faster.
“This really gives us an edge in building fantastic customer experiences,” Bakkenes said.
As part of the expanded partnership, Google engineers will test software by driving Volvo vehicles, enabling them to observe real-world performance earlier in the development cycle.
Bakkenes noted that the automotive industry typically lags two Android releases behind mobile phones, limiting in-car functionality compared to smartphones.
Currently, Volvo vehicles run on Android 13. However, at Google’s I/O developer conference in Mountain View, Calif., the companies showcased Volvo’s EX90 electric SUV operating on Android 15.
The EX90 with Android 15 will be available in production models later this year.
“Others might have to wait two years to get” the latest version, Bakkenes said.
The companies also demonstrated Google’s Gemini artificial intelligence model running in the EX90.
Volvo plans to roll out Gemini to vehicles with Google built-in.
With Gemini, drivers can ask the AI to search emails or messages for destinations, or request recipes and have a shopping list sent to their phone, creating what Bakkenes described as a “human-centric experience.”
Volvo becomes lead development partner for Android automotive software
EX90 SUV to launch with Android 15 later this year
Google engineers to test software in Volvo vehicles
Source: REUTERS
