Volvo adopts YouTube for cars equipped with Android automotive

Volvo offers a central screen running Android Automotive on some of its models. It will soon be possible to download the YouTube application from both and get in touch with your car through Google Assistant.

When traveling in an electric car, the gaps at the charging stations can be long. Electric Volvo owners should be glad to know that the manufacturer is going to integrate YouTube into its vehicles, whose core screen is powered by Google OS Android Automotive dedicated to automobiles.

Therefore, owners of Volvo electric cars (XC40 Recharge and C40 Recharge), or even the XC60 and V90 year 2022, can download the video app from Google. The rest of the range is unaffected because their central screen operates under a home-made OS.

Like many apps available on Android Automotive, YouTube can be downloaded from the Play Store. It is only possible to watch video when a fixed and internet connection is provided on an unlimited plan offered for four years after the vehicle is purchased.

Volvo also announces the arrival of third-party applications for navigation Sygic and Flitsmeister, Charge Point and PlugShare Charging, SpotHero and ParkWhiz parking.

Tesla has already launched YouTube in its cars, at the Tesla Theater, and other streaming services.

Functions that can be controlled with Google Assistant

Volvo cars equipped with Android automotive already used Google Assistant. Now, you can control some of your car’s functions from another device that integrates a voice assistant (such as a smartphone, speaker, etc.) to warm up or lock the vehicle. However, for some sensory functions, especially opening, two-factor recognition is required.

Finally, Volvo and Polastar announce an alliance with Qualcomm. Therefore, the manufacturers’ next electric cars will be based on Snapdragon cockpit platform technologies. Their infotainment system is still based on Android Automotive, so it’s twice as fast.