Volvo Cars has unveiled two transformative technological updates to enhance both in-car experiences and charging convenience for its upcoming models. These upgrades will become available across a range of popular models, including the XC40, EX40, EC40, V60, and V90, and signify a strategic push towards a more seamless, responsive, and driver-focused automobile environment.
Volvo Car UX: A New-Generation Interface
The all-new Volvo Car UX is set to debut in 2025, blending cutting-edge design with enhanced personalization. Drawing from customer feedback and real-world data, Volvo’s philosophy centers on offering a system that is both safe and user-friendly. At the heart of this UX redesign is its ability to present the most used apps—such as navigation, media, and communications—directly on the home screen for quick access. Its dynamic “contextual bar” ensures that relevant features are highlighted based on the user’s immediate needs.
Further updates include an enhanced driver display positioned behind the steering wheel, offering a larger navigation view with even better clarity. By embracing in-car Google services, or their regional equivalents, Volvo ensures a familiar yet elevated experience for users. This updated UX will be applied not only to upcoming models but also retrofitted to millions of existing Volvo vehicles—spanning back to cars manufactured in 2020—via over-the-air (OTA) software updates. This is expected to reach approximately 2.5 million customers worldwide by the end of 2025.
Snapdragon Cockpit Platform: Speed Meets Precision
Bolstering this next-gen user experience is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Cockpit Platform, which delivers a significant leap in performance. Already integrated into the Volvo EX30 and EX90 models, this platform is over twice as fast as the previous system and enables 10 times faster graphics generation. With lightning-quick responsiveness and lag-free functionality, the upgraded system aims to reduce driver distraction, making navigation and access to relevant information smoother and safer.
This next-generation hardware will also extend to the new Volvo XC90 in 2025, ensuring a future-proof infotainment ecosystem for a wide range of customers.
Plug & Charge: Simplifying EV Ownership
For the European market, Volvo is rolling out the Plug & Charge service in 2025, exclusive to its EX30, EX40, and EC40 models. This innovative feature streamlines public EV charging processes by eliminating the need for cards or separate authentication apps. Instead, drivers can simply pull up to a compatible charging station, plug in, and let the system authenticate and process payments automatically. Compatible charging stations can be easily located through Google Maps on the car’s central display or via the Volvo Cars app.
This advancement embodies convenience, with Erik Severinson, Volvo Cars’ chief product and strategy officer, highlighting the “carefree” nature of the interaction: “Everything is already sorted by the system,” saving drivers valuable time and unnecessary effort.
These technology upgrades align with Volvo’s broader mission to ensure continual improvements through OTA updates, allowing even older models to benefit from modern innovations. “Every Volvo model—regardless of platform or powertrain—should offer a similar user experience,” says Severinson. This approach demonstrates Volvo’s commitment to maintaining functional parity across its lineup, meeting customer needs while staying ahead of automotive trends.
