Volvo Cars has started rolling out its latest over-the-air (OTA) software update with Google built in, enabling a variety of feature and quality improvements.
The update will include functionalities like Apple CarPlay, which will enable iPhone users to feel even more at home, the Swedish automaker said. Users can now connect their iPhone via USB to their Volvo car and access apps from their iPhone, wherever Apple CarPlay is available.
The company has been offering OTA updates on a regular basis since last year for its EVs including the XC40. It is a key technology for making customers’ cars continuously better, it says.
“Through over-the-air updates, we can make sure that our customers can enjoy new features quickly and easily,” said Sanela Ibrovic, Head of Connected Experience at Volvo Cars. “It also means that a new Volvo car is no longer at its finest as it rolls off the factory floor, but keeps improving as we launch additional updates.”
The previous OTA update, which was released in April, has been deployed to more than 197,000 cars. The most recent OTA release will be available in 14 new markets, and the company expects the volume of cars covered by such updates to grow with every new update.
Together with the April update, Volvo Cars also announced that all new Volvo car models are able to receive software updates, meaning that the company is making important progress towards its ambition of making its customers’ cars better over time.
The latest OTA update, including the rollout of Apple CarPlay, is now available in the UK, the company said, adding that the features and services may differ between markets.