Volvo has announced its largest over-the-air (OTA) software update to date with the global rollout of its new user interface.Volvo Car UX“, which will be free for vehicles built from 2020.
The company says it is one of the largest automotive software updates in history. The new update will apply to more than 2.5 million Volvo vehicles in 85 countries, including around 2.5 million 33,000 in Australia.
Volvo said the update “prepares cars for an optimal conversational AI (artificial intelligence) experience with Google Gemini, which will be available this (European) spring (April-June 2026) for the same eligible cars.”
2020 and later vehicles using Google Built-in will receive the improved Volvo Car UX (user experience), based on the Android Automotive operating system.
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Google Built-in was first seen in the 2020 Volvo XC40 small SUV and introduced features such as Google Assistant and Google Maps navigation, as well as connectivity to smart home devices.
In Australia, Google Built-in was rolled out to all Volvos sold from 2020, before extending to the Swedish car brand’s entire product range from the 2023 model year.
In a statement, the Geely-owned automaker said its new user interface software “requires fewer taps or clicks for customers to reach the features they use most.”
This includes faster access to maps, media and phone features positioned on the home screen. Volvo says this means drivers don’t have to leave Google Maps to change the music, for example.
There are also changes to benefit drivers of plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs), which will remain available after Volvo withdraws its previous plan to offer only electric vehicles (EVs) worldwide from 2030.
A “Driving Modes” option on the home screen of PHEVs provides quick access to driving modes, allowing the driver to switch between petrol and electric power with a single touch.
Starting July 1, 2026, new regulations in China will require physical buttons for key functions in new vehicles, following widespread customer backlash against moving key vehicle controls from dashboards to touchscreens.
Meanwhile, in Australia, Volvo will introduce vehicle-to-load (V2L) charging for the EX30 small electric SUV as part of a 2026 model year refresh expected in the second half of this year.
Further models are to follow, but their release date has yet to be officially confirmed.
Australians will see Volvo’s new ES90 large electric liftback, a rival to the BMW i5 and Mercedes-Benz EQE, in local showrooms in the first half of this year, priced from $88,880 before on-road costs.
The new mid-size electric SUV EX60 – another competitor to the Tesla Model Y, this time positioned as an electric alternative to the XC60 within the Volvo range – is also due to land here in July.
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