The new EX60 brings Volvo’s software plans to life

The EX60 combines centralised computing, AI integration and OTA capabilities in a single production model. Following its world premiere on 21 January 2026, the fully-electric SUV became the first series-production Volvo to showcase the brand’s software-defined vehicle ambitions in full. It is the first Volvo model to feature Google’s new Gemini AI assistant and serves as a showcase for the company’s broader shift towards software-defined vehicle architectures.

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Volvo’s expanded role with Google

Volvo and Google had already announced the deeper integration of Gemini in 2025 during the Google I/O developer conference. Going forward, the multimodal AI assistant is set to become available across all Volvo vehicles equipped with Google built-in infotainment. In addition, Volvo will act as a reference platform for the ongoing development of Android Automotive OS, underlining its ambition to position vehicles not just as products, but as continuously evolving software platforms.

“Volvo EX60 is packed with human-centric technology designed to improve life behind the wheel,” said Anders Bell, Chief Engineering and Technology Officer at Volvo Cars. He emphasised that Volvo’s hardware and software stack, known internally as HuginCore, combines in-house technology with solutions from partners such as Google, Nvidia and Qualcomm. According to Bell, the system is designed to operate discreetly in the background while actively supporting the driver.

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Volvo becomes a reference platform for Android Automotive

The introduction of Gemini represents a significant step forward for in-car voice interaction. Unlike previous assistants, Gemini is based on multimodal AI and is designed to understand natural language far more effectively. During earlier demonstrations using the Volvo EX90, Google showcased scenarios in which drivers could dictate messages, request real-time translations, search the vehicle manual or retrieve contextual information — all through conversational speech.

Gemini is expected to replace the current Google Assistant in Volvo vehicles over the course of the year. The goal, according to both companies, is to reduce cognitive load while driving and thereby improve safety. Beyond customer-facing features, the partnership also has strategic implications: Volvo vehicles will be used by Google as testbeds for new Android Automotive functions before these are released more broadly. Patrick Brady, Vice President of Android for Cars at Google, described the collaboration as a way to set new benchmarks not only for Volvo customers, but for the automotive industry as a whole.

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For Volvo, the move reinforces its ambition to actively shape a digital ecosystem around the vehicle. Alwin Bakkenes, Head of Global Software Engineering at Volvo Cars, has previously highlighted that early access to new software capabilities allows innovations to reach series production faster. The EX60 builds on the company’s transition towards centralised computing and cleaner separation between infotainment and safety-critical systems, enabling more frequent and comprehensive over-the-air updates.

Core computing architecture as the foundation

At the technical core of this strategy is Volvo’s next-generation core computing architecture, internally referred to as HuginCore. In the EX60, this architecture combines a central core computer with a redesigned electrical and electronic structure and a unified software layer. The aim is to consolidate computing power and data processing in order to support software-defined functionality across the vehicle.

Over-the-air updates are not limited to infotainment features but are intended to gradually extend to driver assistance and vehicle dynamics systems. For cockpit and infotainment functions, Volvo relies on Qualcomm’s next-generation Snapdragon Cockpit Platform, which handles graphics, voice interaction and user interfaces. Connectivity is supported by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Auto Connectivity Platform, providing the data backbone for cloud services and vehicle-to-cloud communication.

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How are other OEMs addressing similar challenges?

Volvo’s move with the EX60 follows a broader industry trend in which traditional OEMs are bringing AI-driven infotainment and centralised software strategies into production vehicles. For example, Mercedes-Benz’s EQS has introduced advanced voice assistants and over-the-air update capabilities, while BMW’s iX combines AI-enhanced user interfaces with a high-performance central compute unit. Ford’s Mustang Mach-E and VW’s ID. series similarly showcase how manufacturers are embedding cloud-connected services, personalised experiences and regular software enhancements as part of their core vehicle propositions. Together, these models illustrate how the shift toward software-defined mobility is expanding beyond flagship concepts and into scalable EV lineups.