After announcing Gemini is about to get on board, Volvo uses I/O 2025 to announce a new extended partnership with Google. The new deals for these companies have made Volvo’s automotive reference hardware for future Android Automotive OS development, meaning that Volvo drivers will be “one of the earliest people to benefit” when Gemini completely replaces Google Assistant in Cars.
Volvo describes itself as Google’s “primary development partner for new features and updates”, making the company’s car the first to receive new updates to Android Automotive OS. Google uses Android Auto as its CARPlay-like solution for beaming software interfaces from a phone to an in-car display, but its car operating system is more complete, runs on local vehicles and connects to A/C’s car controls and more. For example, you can already experience Android Automotive OS in Volvo’s EX90.
Google’s current vision for Android in cars may not be surprising, to get drivers to talk to Gemini. In a car with assistant, you can ask Gemini to send a message, pull up instructions or answer a more open natural language question that Gemini Live is designed to handle. If it works like an ad, it seems to be better than pecking on the screen, Volvo notes that it can “help reduce cognitive burden so you can focus on driving.”
There is no release date, when can you expect Gemini to appear as your driving co-pilot, but at least this new partnership means it will go into Volvo first.
