Volvo pushes major software update to 2.5 million vehicles worldwide

Volvo Cars has begun deploying what it says is the largest over-the-air software update in the company’s history, delivering a redesigned infotainment interface to approximately 2.5 million vehicles worldwide. The update introduces a new user experience known as Volvo Car UX and will be distributed to compatible vehicles in roughly 85 countries starting this week.

The software update targets Volvo models equipped with the company’s Android Automotive–based infotainment system and Google built-in services. Vehicles built as early as 2020 will receive the new interface at no cost, provided they meet connectivity requirements and are running the latest available software.

According to Volvo, the goal of the update is to simplify how drivers interact with key in-vehicle functions by reorganizing the layout of the central touchscreen display. The new interface is designed to reduce the number of taps required to access frequently used features, including navigation, media playback, and phone controls. The changes reflect Volvo’s broader strategy of improving vehicles after purchase through regular software updates.

The rollout represents a continuation of the industry’s shift toward software-defined vehicles. Increasingly, automakers are using over-the-air updates to introduce new features and improvements long after vehicles leave the factory. Tesla popularized this approach in the past decade, but most large manufacturers now use similar systems to update infotainment software, adjust vehicle performance parameters, and expand functionality remotely.

Volvo began adopting large-scale over-the-air updates in recent years as it expanded its use of Android Automotive OS, a platform developed by Google specifically for in-vehicle infotainment systems. Unlike smartphone projection systems such as Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, Android Automotive runs directly on the vehicle’s hardware and integrates native apps and services, including Google Maps, Google Assistant, and the Google Play Store.

The new Volvo Car UX interface builds on this foundation by reorganizing the central display’s layout. In the updated design, the home screen presents commonly used applications and controls more prominently, allowing drivers to access navigation, media, and phone features without navigating through multiple menus.

One of the functional changes introduced in the update involves how drivers interact with Google Maps and other apps while driving. In earlier versions of the system, switching between navigation and media controls sometimes required exiting the navigation screen. Under the new layout, these controls are accessible directly from the home screen, allowing drivers to adjust audio playback without leaving the map interface.

The interface also introduces a contextual bar that adapts based on the driving situation and recent activity. This section of the display surfaces commonly used functions or recently accessed apps to reduce the number of steps required to return to them. In certain driving conditions, the contextual bar can also display vehicle-specific tools. For example, when driving at low speeds, the system may highlight the vehicle’s external camera views to assist with maneuvering in confined areas.

Plug-in hybrid models receive additional functionality through the redesigned layout. Volvo says the update makes it easier to switch between drive modes, including electric-only operation. The “Pure” electric mode can now be accessed directly from the home screen’s drive mode menu, reducing the steps required to change the powertrain configuration.

Another goal of the redesign is to create a consistent visual and functional experience across different Volvo models and model years. The company says the new interface establishes a common design philosophy across its lineup, meaning owners of older vehicles equipped with compatible infotainment hardware will receive a similar layout to that used in newer models such as the EX90.

The update applies to a broad range of Volvo vehicles equipped with Android Automotive OS, including the C40, XC40, EX40, EC40, S60, V60, V60 Cross Country, XC60, S90, V90, V90 Cross Country, and XC90. However, availability may vary depending on market, model year, and connectivity status. Vehicles must have an active data connection and be updated to the latest software version to receive over-the-air installations automatically. Otherwise, owners may need to visit an authorized Volvo service center for the update.

In addition to the interface changes, Volvo says the update will introduce new purchasing options for certain driver-assistance features. Owners of vehicles equipped with Google built-in but not originally configured with the company’s Pilot Assist driver assistance system will gain the ability to purchase and download that feature through the vehicle’s software platform.

Pilot Assist is Volvo’s advanced driver-assistance system that combines adaptive cruise control with lane-centering capability. While it does not make the vehicle autonomous, it can assist with maintaining speed, maintaining a safe distance from other vehicles, and maintaining lane position on compatible roads. Allowing customers to add the system after purchase reflects a broader industry trend toward software-enabled feature upgrades.

The update also prepares vehicles for the future integration of Google Gemini, Google’s conversational artificial intelligence platform. Volvo says the AI system is expected to become available on eligible vehicles later in the spring, potentially expanding voice-based interactions within the infotainment system.

Volvo executives say the new interface is based on research into how customers actually use their vehicles’ digital systems. The company has collected driver feedback and usage data to determine which features are accessed most often and how drivers interact with the central display while driving.

That feedback informed the updated layout and interface structure. By placing frequently used controls on the main screen and simplifying navigation, Volvo aims to reduce the time drivers spend interacting with the infotainment system.

The software update also illustrates how automakers increasingly view vehicle ownership as an evolving product experience rather than a fixed set of features delivered at the time of purchase. With vehicles now connected through cellular networks and cloud-based platforms, manufacturers can introduce new functionality years after a car enters service.

Volvo has emphasized this approach as part of its broader transition toward electrification and digital vehicle platforms. The company has stated that software development and connectivity are key components of its long-term product strategy.

Founded in 1927 and headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden, Volvo sells vehicles in more than 100 countries and reported global sales of more than 710,000 vehicles in 2025. Electrified models, including hybrids and battery-electric vehicles, accounted for approximately 46 percent of those sales.

The automaker continues to expand its technology partnerships as part of that strategy. Its collaboration with Google has become a central component of the brand’s infotainment and digital services architecture, with Android Automotive serving as the operating system across multiple vehicle platforms.

With the rollout of the Volvo Car UX update now underway, millions of existing Volvo vehicles will receive a redesigned infotainment interface designed to streamline access to common functions while laying the groundwork for additional software features planned later this year.