Volvo has announced that all its car models will be available with over-the-air (OTA) software update capability for the 2023 model year.
The latest Volvo models to receive this functionality are the XC90 large SUV, S60 sedan, and V60 Cross Country wagon. They also gain the Android Automotive infotainment operating system, too.
A Volvo Car Australia spokesperson confirmed these updated models will be arriving in Australia in June 2022 as part of a 2023 model year update.
The spokesperson also confirmed all orders placed for Volvos from today will be for a 2023 model year vehicle.
Overseas model shown
This means the all the company’s models, including the all-electric XC40 Recharge and XC60, now have Android Automotive and the capability to complete operating system updates over-the-air.
Countries that now support Volvo OTA updates include Australia, Hong Kong, India, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand.
“By making all Volvo models able to receive over-the-air updates, we make important progress towards our ambition of making our customers’ cars better every day,” said Volvo chief product officer Henrik Green.
“This is a significant milestone: we’re now updating cars of all models in a majority of our markets, bringing the benefits of remote continuous updates to an ever increasing number of customers.”
Volvo also announced its latest, eighth complete car update will reach “more than 190,000 Volvo cars across the globe”.
The update includes new app categories on the Google Play Store, including navigation, charging and parking. Video streaming is expected to be added later in 2022.
It also brings improvements ranging from better energy management to improved climate timers, and updates to the mobile and in-car app functionality.
For electric models, the energy management improvements help to maintain optimal battery temperatures during cold and hot days, which boosts driving range. There’s also a battery pre-heating function so it can charge quicker.
V60 Cross Country B5
XC90 Recharge T8
The Volvo Car companion app now also receives more frequent updates from the car on the charging percentage during a charging session.
The transition to Android Automotive comes as Volvo works towards its previously announced plans of going all-electric by 2030 and only selling its vehicles online.
It also expects to derive at least half of its sales from EVs by 2025.
Its first all-electric model, the XC40 Recharge SUV, first arrived locally during mid-2021 and is currently available in both single- and dual-electric motor set-ups.
It was the first Volvo to use the new Android Automotive operating system.
XC40 Recharge
C40 Recharge
The related C40 Recharge coupe SUV is set to touch down on Australian soil in the third quarter of 2022 and will also be available in both single- and dual-electric motor set-ups.
Both of these vehicles are built on the CMA platform which also underpins the Polestar 2 electric liftback.
Volvo is also gearing to reveal an XC90 large SUV replacement, expected to be called the Embla, which’ll be all-electric. This vehicle’s styling was previewed by the 2021 Concept Recharge.
Keyword: Volvo adds Android Automotive to all models