Volvo has announced that two of its models are now compatible with over-the-air software updates. The electric XC40 Recharge and three versions of the XC60 are eligible for various wireless changes, including range improvements and minor bug fixes.
The Swedish company released details about its wireless software update system shortly after it went public. It’s compatible with the new Android-based infotainment system found in many of its cars, including the C40 Recharge unveiled in 2021, and it’s a lot like the similar technology your smartphone offers in that the software runs itself. updates; no need to visit a dealer or connect a USB drive. When an update is ready, a message appears on the dashboard-mounted touchscreen asking motorists to download it.
Compatible car owners in the United States received their first over-the-air software update last week. Labeled version 1.7, it notably added SiriusXM satellite radio compatibility. Volvo also noted that the XC40 Recharge gained extra range during the update. Looking ahead, Volvo plans to wirelessly add new features and improvements to the infotainment system.
Only some 2021 and 2022 models can receive over-the-air updates. At the time of writing, the list of compatible cars is limited to the aforementioned XC40 Recharge, the XC60, the XC60 Recharge and the XC60 Polestar Engineered. It’s reasonable to assume that the feature will spread across the range in the coming years as new models are launched. Sister company Polestar also offers over-the-air updates on the 2.
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