The Volvo EX60 puts Nvidia Drive and Google Gemini at the center of its design

Volvo Cars is set to reveal the all-electric EX60 on January 21, 2026, positioning the midsize SUV as a key step in the company’s transition toward software-defined electric vehicles. The EX60 will be the first Volvo model to launch with Google’s Gemini AI assistant integrated directly into its vehicle systems, marking a deeper collaboration between the automaker and Google that has been developing over the past decade.

Rather than focusing on exterior design or traditional performance metrics, Volvo’s initial disclosure centers on the EX60’s computing architecture, voice interaction capabilities, and ability to evolve through software updates over time. The company describes the EX60 as its most technologically advanced vehicle to date, built around a centralized hardware and software platform intended to support advanced infotainment, driver assistance, and safety systems.

At the core of the EX60’s user interaction strategy is Gemini, Google’s conversational AI assistant. Volvo states that Gemini enables natural, multi-turn voice interactions, allowing drivers to issue requests conversationally rather than relying on fixed voice commands. The intent is to reduce the need for manual input through the central touchscreen, potentially allowing drivers to remain more focused on driving tasks.

According to Volvo, Gemini can manage a range of contextual requests, such as retrieving stored information from connected accounts, assisting with trip planning, or answering questions related to vehicle capacity. The system is deeply integrated into the vehicle’s operating environment, which Volvo says allows it to understand intent across multiple spoken prompts. As with other Google-based automotive services, the availability and functionality of Gemini features may vary by market.

Supporting this interface is a new internal platform Volvo refers to as HuginCore. The system represents the combined hardware and software foundation of the EX60 and includes the vehicle’s electrical architecture, core computer, zone controllers, and operating software. While Volvo has previously employed centralized computing concepts, the EX60 is the first vehicle in which the company has formally named and defined this architecture as a single system.

Volvo positions HuginCore as central to its approach to human-centric technology, emphasizing that most of its operation occurs in the background. The platform is designed to support continuous development through over-the-air software updates, allowing vehicle functionality to improve or expand after delivery. This approach aligns with broader industry trends, particularly among electric vehicle manufacturers that increasingly rely on centralized computing and software-defined features.

The computing hardware underpinning HuginCore comes from several major technology partners. For infotainment and user interface functions, the EX60 uses Qualcomm Technologies’ next-generation Snapdragon Cockpit Platform. Volvo says this system-on-a-chip delivers the highest processing capability it has yet deployed in a production vehicle, enabling faster screen response times, smoother graphics, and reduced latency across the infotainment system.

Connectivity is handled by the Snapdragon Auto Connectivity Platform, also from Qualcomm Technologies. Volvo states that this system provides continuous, responsive data connectivity and will be paired with four years of complimentary unlimited data, depending on market conditions. This connectivity is intended to support cloud-based services, voice interaction, navigation, and software updates.

For advanced driver assistance and safety-related processing, the EX60 relies on the Nvidia Drive platform. At its center is the Nvidia AGX Orin system-on-a-chip, running Nvidia’s safety-certified DriveOS operating system. Volvo states that this setup provides the EX60 with the computational capacity required to process large volumes of sensor data in real time.

According to Volvo, the EX60 is capable of performing more than 250 trillion operations per second. This processing capacity is used to interpret data from the vehicle’s sensors, maintain situational awareness, and support advanced driver assistance functions. While Volvo has not detailed the full feature set at launch, it indicates that the EX60 is designed to enable increasingly sophisticated assistance capabilities over time.

The company emphasizes that the EX60’s safety systems are designed to learn continuously. Using data collected from its own operation as well as aggregated insights from other Volvo vehicles worldwide, the EX60 can refine how it responds to potential hazards. Volvo states that this shared learning includes information derived from accidents and near-miss scenarios to improve safety performance across its fleet. Details regarding data governance, anonymization, and regional deployment have not been disclosed.

Volvo also highlights the EX60’s ability to receive regular over-the-air updates. These updates are enabled by what the company calls the Volvo Cars Superset tech stack, a software foundation intended to support multiple models and future vehicle generations. Through this system, Volvo expects to deliver improvements to performance, safety systems, and digital features without requiring physical service visits.

Over time, Volvo plans to deepen Gemini’s integration with vehicle systems. The company has indicated that future updates could allow the AI assistant to access the EX60’s camera systems, enabling it to respond to questions about the vehicle’s surroundings. Volvo has not provided a timeline for when such features might become available or how they would be regulated across different markets.

In addition to its software and computing architecture, Volvo has released preliminary information about the EX60’s driving range and charging capability. The company estimates that the EX60 will be capable of traveling up to 400 miles on a single charge in an all-wheel-drive configuration, based on internal calculations aligned with EPA testing procedures. Volvo notes that these figures are preliminary and that official EPA ratings will be published at a later date.

Charging performance is another area Volvo highlights. According to the company, the EX60 can add up to 173 miles of range in approximately 10 minutes when connected to a 400-kilowatt DC fast charger. Volvo cautions that charging times can vary based on factors such as battery temperature, charger availability, and environmental conditions. The real-world usefulness of this capability will also depend on access to high-output charging infrastructure.

The EX60 forms part of Volvo’s broader strategy to transition to a fully electric lineup and reduce its environmental impact. The company has publicly stated its ambition to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. While the EX60 represents a significant technological step, Volvo has not yet disclosed pricing, trim levels, production locations, or a detailed market rollout schedule.

The vehicle will be unveiled during a livestreamed event on January 21, 2026. Until then, many practical details remain undisclosed, including final specifications and regional availability. Volvo has emphasized that feature availability may differ between markets due to regulatory and technical considerations.

Taken together, the EX60 illustrates how Volvo is reframing vehicle development around centralized computing, artificial intelligence, and long-term software support. While mechanical specifications and design details are still forthcoming, the company’s early focus on architecture and capability signals how it expects future Volvo vehicles to be defined less by static features and more by their ability to evolve over time.