Volvo will also serve as the lead development partner for future Android Automotive features
May 22, 2025 at 07:02
- Gemini understands natural conversations and can answer questions directly from the car’s manual.
- Later this year, Volvo models with Android Automotive will be updated to Android 15.
- Other vehicles running Google’s infotainment system will likely get Gemini in the future.
The in-car tech arms race is heating up again, and Google doesn’t want to be left in the rearview. While Apple’s new CarPlay Ultra system soaked up attention last week, Google is stepping forward to highlight its own progress. As part of its long-running collaboration with Volvo, Google has confirmed that the Swedish automaker’s vehicles will soon feature Google Gemini, the advanced AI-powered voice assistant currently found on Android smartphones.
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Every new Volvo already runs Android Automotive as standard, but starting later this year, Gemini will replace the current Google Assistant interface. Designed to handle more natural, conversational interactions, Gemini promises to make in-car voice commands less robotic and more intuitive. Volvo drivers will be able to ask questions from the vehicle’s digital manual or pull up information about places they’re headed, using more everyday language.
Smarter Features, Smoother Commands
Beyond the basics, Gemini can help drivers compose messages and translate them on the fly. It also takes care of smaller tasks, like searching for recipes and adding ingredients to a shopping list. For those planning trips, Gemini can sift through emails or texts to find information about destinations, offering a more streamlined way to prepare without pulling out a phone.
Volvo, which has always been a leader in safety, says the more natural conversions possible with Gemini “reduce your cognitive load so that you can stay focused on driving, reducing distractions for everyone onboard.” The partnership between Google and Volvo extends beyond giving drivers the ability to ask Gemini what café they should stop at for their next dose of caffeine.
More Than Just Voice Control
The partnership is also expanding behind the scenes. Volvo will now serve as Google’s lead development partner for new Android Automotive features and updates. While current Volvo models are running Android 13, the shift to Android 15 is expected later this year, an update that only arrived on mobile devices in late 2024.
Speaking with Reuters at an event in California, Volvo head of global software engineering Alwin Bakkenes said non-Volvo models running Android Automotive may have to wait two years to get the latest operating system.
“We strive to deliver human-centric technology, and a stunning customer experience is an essential part of this. Through this partnership with Google, we are able to bring the very latest features and capabilities from the leading consumer eco-system into our products first,” Bakkenes added. “With our expanding partnership, we’re collaborating on cutting-edge solutions that shape the future of connected cars.”
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