- Volvo will be the first carmaker to integrate Google’s Gemini AI, replacing Google Assistant in selected models.
- The EX90 showcases Gemini’s conversational features, including message drafting, translations, and manual queries.
- Volvo now serves as a reference hardware partner for Google’s Android Automotive development.
Volvo Cars is cranking up the connected car stakes with an expanded tech alliance that puts Google’s next-gen AI front and centre - literally, on the dash.
The Swedish carmaker announced it will be the first to integrate Google Gemini, replacing Google Assistant in Volvo models with Google built-in later this year.
Say hello to Gemini behind the wheel
Unveiled during Google I/O 2025 and demoed in the Volvo EX90, the integration promises to make in-car voice interactions more fluid and intuitive.
Gemini’s conversational capabilities go beyond barking commands - it can help drivers write and translate messages, answer questions from the vehicle’s manual and even provide real-time destination info, all while keeping hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.
As Patrick Brady, Google’s VP of Android for Cars, put it: “We’re excited to deepen this partnership, accelerating the pace of innovation that will not only improve the driving experience for Volvo customers but also set new benchmarks for the automotive industry.”
Volvo gets pole position on Android updates
The partnership isn’t just about Gemini - it also sees Volvo become one of Google’s reference hardware platforms for Android Automotive development. That means future Android updates will likely hit Volvos first, as the two companies co-develop features before they reach the broader ecosystem.
Volvo’s head of global software engineering, Alwin Bakkenes, sees it as a win-win: “With our expanding partnership, we’re collaborating on cutting-edge solutions that shape the future of connected cars.”
Cars and code
While Gemini’s exact rollout schedule varies by market, Volvo hasn’t disclosed which models or regions will receive the update first.
What’s clear is that the EX90 is leading the charge - with a slick centre screen image on page 3 showing “Google Gemini” front and centre.
For a company that posted record sales of 763,389 cars in 2024 and a SEK 27 billion (NZ$4.7 billion) operating profit, Volvo’s software ambitions are clearly in gear.
Whether Gemini turns out to be a gimmick or a genuine game-changer remains to be seen - but the race to AI-integrated dashboards is now very much on, especially with Apple's immersive new CarPlay Ultra also recently debuting with Aston Martin vehicles.