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Volvo's app-based Valet maintenance service launches across the US
Volvo has officially rolled out its pickup and delivery service for vehicles needing maintenance across the US. The automaker first introduced the service called Volvo Valet back in 2018 when it debuted a pilot program in California. It was the result of its Luxe acquisition in 2017, when it snapped up the premium app-based valet service's technology and engineers. Now that Valet is available throughout the US, more owners can schedule an appointment either through the Valet app or through calling a participating retailer.
Polestar 2 EV production starts in China despite COVID-19
While factories in Europe and the US grind to a halt due to COVID-19, Polestar has started production of its Polestar 2 in Luqiao, China. The Volvo brand's first EV is being built on the same production line as the Volvo XC40, as both companies are owned by Chinese automaker Geely. The first vehicles produced will be sold in Europe, with deliveries slated to start in China, then North America after that.
Volvo will use blockchain to prove its cobalt wasn’t mined by children
The dark side of electric vehicle production is that the lithium ion batteries most EVs run on require raw materials like cobalt, and cobalt mines have become notorious for using child labor. Now that Volvo has revealed its first fully-electric car, the XC40 Recharge, the automaker wants to ensure sure that the raw materials in its lithium ion batteries are sourced responsibly. For that, it's turning to blockchain.
Google's new emulator makes Android Automotive development easier
With both the Polestar 2 and Volvo XC40 set to launch sometime in 2020, there's still sometime before the first slate of Android Automotive cars make their way to consumers. Thankfully, Google is making it easier for developers to create apps for the infotainment system to ensure a smooth experience for early adopters. The company says it's rolling out a new version of the Android Automotive emulator that includes the Google Play Store.
Volvo unveils the XC40 EV, its first full-electric vehicle
Not to be outdone by its electrified-performance sibling Polestar, Volvo today unveiled its all-wheel-drive (AWD) XC40 Recharge pure EV at an event in Los Angeles. The car looks exactly like its gas-powered counterpart and will house a 78kWh battery pack underneath the passenger area. This isn't the first time this vehicle has been used by the automaker to introduce a new technology or service. Care by Volvo was initially available only for the XC40.
Polestar is opening its first North American EV store
If you want to get a close look at Polestar's cars and check out its relatively novel retail experience, you may need to plan a trip to Canada. Polestar has announced that its first retail partner in the Americas, and thus its first "Polestar Space" in these areas, will be in Montreal. The team still has to pick a location in the city, but you can shop the brand's electrified cars starting in 2020.
Volvo's electric XC40 will use an Android infotainment system
Volvo's electric XC40 will represent an upgrade to in-cabin tech, not just the powerplant. The automaker has continued its teaser campaign for the EV by revealing that it will use an infotainment system based on Android Automotive, just like the cars from its Polestar performance brand. That provides access to handy Google services like Assistant, Maps and the Play Store, but it's also a milestone for Volvo itself. This will be the first Volvo to receive over-the-air updates for its core software, not just apps and map data -- your center console won't be frozen in time.
Volvo's electric XC40 will be one of its safest vehicles yet
Volvo has been teasing an electric version of its XC40 SUV for a while, and now it's ready to dribble out some information. The automaker is boasting that its first EV will be "one of the safest cars on the road" due both to its inherent design and new features. The presence of a battery in the floor of the vehicle helps lower the center of gravity and prevent rollovers, but there's also a new battery structure with a safety cage and crumple zone to protect the lithium-ion cells in the event of a collision.
Volvo’s XC90 brings Swedish minimalism to a sea of luxury SUVs
There's one word to describe Volvo's high-end SUV offering: smooth. The ride is smooth. The steering is smooth. The braking is (now) smooth. The interior? Smooth. It's like a serene lake in Sweden that also has massage seats. If only it had more USB ports.
Volvo's Polestar engineered XC60 is fast, but still reserved
The Banff area in Canada is spellbinding. The mountains, the lakes, the spires of rock formations jutting towards the heavens don't seem real. But also, no human could create something this beautiful. It's also the best and worst place to drive the Volvo XC60 T8 E-AWD Polestar midsize SUV.
Lotus’ all-electric hypercar fully charges in nine minutes
Lotus decided to make its latest hypercar not only all-electric but also incredibly powerful. The Evija is the company's first car with an electrified powertrain, which translates into a disgusting amount of power (2,000 PS or roughly 1973 in horsepower). For Lotus, the car represents a new beginning. CEO Phil Popham said the Evija will "re-establish our brand in the hearts and minds of sports car fans." For everyone else, it's a car that wants to go toe-to-toe with Tesla's Roadster in every way possible. Except for affordability. This is apparently what you get when you pay £1.7 million (over $2.1 million) for your next EV.
Volvo's self-driving buses and trucks will run on NVIDIA tech
Volvo's self-driving trucks will have some familiar hardware under the hood. The automaker has signed a deal with NVIDIA that will use the chip company's Drive platform to "train, test and deploy" a slew of large self-driving vehicles that include buses, freight trucks, mining trucks and beyond. They'll both build on NVIDIA's hardware platform and use its software to handle everything from sensor data through to path planning.
Volvo Trucks’ autonomous vehicle is hauling goods in Sweden
Volvo Trucks' autonomous vehicle Vera is ready to hit the road. In collaboration with ferry and logistics company DFDS, Vera will begin transporting goods between a logistics center and a port terminal in Gothenburg, Sweden. The vehicle will haul shipping containers along a predefined route, including a stretch of public roads.
Volvo and Uber's first self-driving car is ready for the road
Two years later, Volvo and Uber are ready to show off their first purpose-built self-driving car. They've introduced a variant of the XC90 SUV that's designed to accept and work with Uber's autonomous driving system from the outset. It packs sensors both above and built-in to help the vehicle navigate city streets on its own. Safety-conscious Volvo, however, is keen to tout "several" backup systems for braking, steering and power that will bring the SUV to a controlled stop if the main components fail.
Volvo designers are driving around in mixed-reality headsets
I'm sitting in a Volvo XC60 in Italy when a moose appears from out of a doorway. Except that none of this is real. I'm actually sat in an office chair in a San Francisco office building, wearing Varjo's XR-1 mixed-reality headset. It's a ridiculous scenario, but both virtual reality and augmented reality are adding a new twist on the car design process.
Volvo's new app tells you what to do after a car accident
Being in a car accident is stressful -- even the smallest bump can send your nerves sky high, and in times of extreme tension it's easy to forget the usual protocols. But Volvo is here to make the whole unfortunate experience a little easier to manage. The company has just released a mobile service, Car Accident Advisor, that will guide you through what to do in the event of a crash.
Volvo’s shared Care Key will keep your teens from speeding
Volvo is continuing its bet on safety over speed. The company announced today that, beginning with model year 2021, all new cars will come with a "Care Key." Owners will be able to set a speed limit attached to the key, and anyone using it will be capped at that speed. The feature might be especially helpful if you plan on lending your car to new or speed-hungry drivers, and Volvo is hoping insurance companies will offer incentives to those who use Care Key.
Volvo will use cameras to fight drunk and distracted driving
Volvo plans to use cameras and sensors inside cars to combat drunk and distracted driving. The vehicles may intervene if a driver doesn't respond to warning signals -- cars may limit their speed, alert the Volvo on Call service (which will contact the driver) or perhaps even slow down and park. Volvo on Call may send additional help if necessary.
Polestar wants you to buy and unlock your car with your phone
Add Polestar to the ranks of automotive brands that are basing their car experiences around your phone. The company has launched a Polestar Explore app for Android and iOS as part of a larger strategy to handle virtually everything from your phone. You can read about the Polestar 2, configure it, pre-order it and eventually buy or subscribe to it without having to visit a website or (gasp) show up at a retail location. And when your phone can also serve as a key, you're effectively set -- you might not need physical interactions besides tapping on your phone's glass or grabbing your car's door handle.
Singapore is testing Volvo's full-sized driverless buses
Universities have proven solid training grounds for self-driving shuttles in Michigan and Melbourne. Now, a campus in Singapore is set to test a full-sized autonomous bus from Volvo. The Swedish auto-maker's single-deck 7900 electric vehicle will carry up to 80 passengers at a time from the Nanyang Technological University (NTU).
