Volvo bets big on Google smarts for future electric cars

It's a common grumble among car owners: the technology in their dashboards often feels years behind their super-slick smartphones. While your phone gets clever new tricks every few months, your car's system can feel stuck in the digital dark ages. Swedish carmaker Volvo, however, is looking to flip that script, buddying up even closer with the tech giant Google to make sure its drivers aren't left staring at yesterday's tech, especially in its new electric cars.

Volvo and Google, who have been working together for about ten years, announced a deeper partnership. This isn't just about having Google Maps in the dashboard anymore. Volvo is now the lead development partner for Google's Android automotive software. Alwin Bakkenes, who heads up global software engineering at Volvo, said the new deal will let Volvo "be fast in bringing new capabilities, new features and new experiences to our customers." He believes this "really gives us an edge in building fantastic customer experiences." In a world where EVs are often judged by their tech, this could be a big advantage.

What does this mean for someone buying a new Volvo? Currently, Volvo vehicles use a system based on Android 13. But at Google's latest developer conference, the two companies showed off Volvo's flagship electric SUV, the Volvo EX90, running on Android 15. That's the very latest version of Google's operating system, the same brain that powers many new phones.

This updated system will appear in Volvo's production models later this year. Bakkenes highlighted a key advantage: "Others might have to wait two years to get that latest version of Android." He pointed out that, on average, the car industry lags about two Android releases behind mobile phones. This gap means "things you can do on your mobile phone, in many cases, you cannot do in the car." Volvo is about to close that gap, and fast.

In modern electric cars, the software is as important as the batteries and motors. It controls everything from entertainment and navigation to how the car manages the battery. Having the latest software means a smoother, more intuitive experience for the driver, better apps, improved voice controls, and even enhanced safety features.

The deepened collaboration also means Google engineers will be testing their newest creations directly in Volvo cars, experiencing "how their product behaves in a real context much earlier and much faster," according to Bakkenes. This hands-on approach should lead to software that's better tailored to the driving environment.

Beyond just the operating system, Volvo is also set to integrate Google's Gemini AI into its cars that already have Google built-in. This is no longer just about asking your car to play a song or find the nearest coffee shop. Gemini promises to be a more intelligent and helpful co-pilot. Bakkenes offered an example: instead of a driver fumbling through their phone to find an address for their destination, they could simply ask Gemini to search their emails or messages for it. That's a neat trick.

The integration of Gemini should create what Bakkenes calls "a human-centric experience." Higher level of assistance could make daily errands and road trips a lot smoother. It's about making the car an intelligent partner that understands and anticipates your needs, moving beyond simple commands to more complex problem-solving and assistance.

As electric cars increasingly turn into sophisticated electronic devices on wheels, partnerships like the one between Volvo and Google will likely play a crucial role in defining what makes a great car in the years to come, perhaps leaving less tech-savvy competitors wondering if they missed a crucial turn.

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