Volvo cars will only get better once they leave the showroom floor.
Volvo’s electric ambitions seem to have no limits as the Swedish auto manufacturer keeps boosting production of electric cars, and even pushing for environmentally friendly cities. As the company celebrates record-breaking sales figures for 2020, more new developments are taking place, this time in the form of the company’s first-ever over-the-air software update on the XC40 Recharge. The 2021 XC40 Recharge is the automaker’s first-ever fully-electric vehicle and goes up against Tesla’s Model Y. European drivers will be the first to benefit from these OTA updates, which will include new features, infotainment bug fixes, and propulsion system improvements.
Volvo
These OTA updates signal a big shift in the way Volvo interacts with its clients and cars and mean that customers will no longer have to visit dealerships for manual software updates. It also means that new Volvo cars will be constantly improving, and not become redundant as time passes, which is still the norm with most cars. The software update includes improvements to the car’s main electronic systems, and it even improves charging times and driving range. The Android Auto system that runs the car’s infotainment system is also getting a few improvements, such as improved Bluetooth connectivity, and recalibration of the car’s 360-degree camera.
“The benefits of over-the-air updates are obvious,” said Henrik Green, chief technology officer. “Yesterday you still had to drive to the workshop in order to get the latest updates to your car. Today you simply click OK and your electric Volvo takes care of the rest. It couldn’t be easier.”
This groundbreaking update is available automatically; all owners have to do is accept the download and wait for the update to install. Volvo is yet to announce when the update will reach the American market, but we can assume that after a successful rollout in Europe, it should soon be made available here. Welcome to the future Volvo.
