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Volvo will introduce Google’s Gemini AI voice assistant system with its upcoming fully-electric EX60 model next year, stating that it is an important move for the brand to be first with the technology.
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Earlier this year, Volvo announced that all of its existing models with Google built in would receive Gemini through a software update scheduled for release later in 2025.
However, speaking to Drive at a recent Volvo range event, Stephen Connor, Managing Director of Volvo Australia, said it will now be introduced first to the EX60, which is due locally in July 2026.
“It's not available as yet, but it'll be coming. The plan is that it comes with the EX60, which is our new model to be launched next year.”
When asked why it was important to be first with Gemini AI, Connor said it was about being early adopters and adding to the experience for the brand’s customers.
“We want to make sure that our cars offer the experience,” he told us.
“We're all starting to use ChatGPT and Gemini, and it's going to give you the capability to do more. You’ll be able to actually use it in the way you would with work. I think that's really important to keep up to speed and be one of the first adopters for that.”
“We're a software-defined company, right? We were one of the first car manufacturers in the world to use a Google entertainment system, and the fact is that we're partnered with Google; they're bringing new features into the system,” a Volvo spokesperson added.
“It makes only sense that we are one of the first people in the world to use it because we already have the investment.”
“We’re trying to move away from it just being a car to take you from A to B. We're trying to move it to an experience.”
Vehicles in Volvo’s fleet already eligible for the Gemini update include model-year 2022-onwards XC60, and all other Volvos from model-year 2023-onwards, which use an infotainment system running Android Automotive software.
Compared to the existing Google Assistant, Gemini will allow drivers to integrate deeper into the vehicle and applications, such as finding information from the owner's manual by voice command.
Other cars currently on sale in Australia with Google Assistant built in include the entire Polestar line-up, the latest Honda Civic and Accord, and the soon-to-arrive facelifted Renault Captur.
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A born-and-bred newshound, Kathryn has worked her way up through the ranks reporting for, and later editing, two renowned UK regional newspapers and websites, before moving on to join the digital newsdesk of one of the world’s most popular newspapers – The Sun. More recently, she’s done a short stint in PR in the not-for-profit sector, and led the news team at Wheels Media.
