In the past decade, the automotive industry has poured enormous energy into screens, menus and touch-based interfaces. Bigger displays, sharper graphics and faster processors became shorthand for progress. Yet for all their sophistication, these systems often demand something drivers cannot afford to give: attention. Volvo Cars’ new, fully electric EX60 proposes a different idea entirely. What if the most advanced interface in the car was not something you touched, but something you spoke to, naturally, intuitively, and without friction?
Set to be revealed on 21 January 2026, the Volvo EX60 is not just another electric mid-size SUV. It represents a shift in how humans interact with cars, powered by Gemini, Google’s new AI assistant, and underpinned by Volvo’s most advanced software-defined architecture to date. The result is a vehicle that does not merely respond to commands, but understands intent, context and conversation.
This is Volvo’s most intelligent car yet, and it arrives with a clear ambition: to make technology fade quietly into the background while making the driving experience safer, calmer and more human.
Talking to Your Car, Naturally
Voice control in cars is not new. What is new is the quality of the interaction. With the EX60, Volvo becomes the first automaker to launch with Gemini fully integrated into the vehicle from day one. This marks a decisive break from rigid command-based systems that require drivers to remember specific phrases or navigate digital hierarchies through speech.
Gemini enables true natural conversation. Drivers can speak as they would to another person, ask follow-up questions, change their minds mid-sentence and carry on multi-turn dialogues without restarting the interaction. The system understands context and intent, not just keywords.
This matters because it fundamentally changes how drivers engage with the car. Instead of glancing at the central display to check details or confirm actions, they can remain focused on the road while the vehicle handles complex requests in the background. Whether it is locating a hotel booking buried in an email inbox, checking if a newly purchased item will fit in the boot, or brainstorming ideas for an upcoming road trip, Gemini turns the car into an intelligent companion rather than a digital tool.
For Volvo, this is not about novelty. It is about safety and ease of use. Reducing cognitive load and screen dependency has long been central to the brand’s philosophy. Gemini simply allows Volvo to express that philosophy through modern AI.
Human-Centric Technology, Reimagined
At the heart of the EX60 is Volvo’s belief that technology should adapt to people, not the other way around. Anders Bell, Chief Engineering and Technology Officer at Volvo Cars, describes the EX60 as “full of human-centric technology designed to enhance your life behind the wheel.” That ethos runs through every layer of the car’s architecture.
The EX60 introduces HuginCore, Volvo Cars’ newly named core system. Inspired by Hugin, one of the birds in Norse mythology known for gathering knowledge and insight, HuginCore represents the thinking brain of the vehicle. It encompasses Volvo’s in-house developed electrical architecture, core computer, zone controllers and software, all working together as a cohesive system.
This is the first time Volvo has named its core system, and the decision is telling. The company is signalling that software and computation are no longer hidden components but defining elements of the driving experience. The EX60 is a true software-defined car, designed to evolve continuously rather than remain static after delivery.
HuginCore blends Volvo’s internal expertise with technologies from industry leaders such as Google, NVIDIA and Qualcomm Technologies. The result is not a patchwork of third-party systems, but a deeply integrated platform that works discreetly in the background, supporting the driver without demanding attention.
Computing Power That Changes the Experience
The conversational intelligence of Gemini and the advanced safety systems of the EX60 require immense computing capability. Inside the EX60, processing power reaches levels never before seen in a Volvo production car.
The next-generation Snapdragon Cockpit Platform from Qualcomm Technologies delivers the highest level of in-car processing Volvo has offered to date. This system-on-a-chip underpins the infotainment experience, enabling instant screen responses, fast-loading maps and smooth, no-lag interactions that make digital friction virtually disappear.
Connectivity is equally critical. The EX60 is equipped with the Snapdragon Auto Connectivity Platform, providing continuous, ultra-responsive connections that allow drivers to make full use of four years of complimentary unlimited data. In an era where cars are increasingly connected devices, this ensures the EX60 remains responsive and relevant wherever it travels.
At the core of the vehicle’s intelligence lies the NVIDIA DRIVE platform, powered by the NVIDIA DRIVE AGX Orin system-on-a-chip. Running on the safety-certified DriveOS operating system, this platform delivers the accelerated computing required for advanced driver assistance systems and real-time environmental analysis.
Together, these technologies create the most responsive user experience ever delivered in a Volvo. The emphasis is not on spectacle, but on effortlessness. Everything reacts instantly. Everything feels fluid. And most importantly, nothing distracts from the act of driving.
A Car That Sees, Thinks and Learns
Safety has always been Volvo’s defining value, and the EX60 takes that legacy into a new era. HuginCore continuously reads and interprets data from a wide array of sensors, creating a detailed, real-time understanding of the world around the car.
This heightened situational awareness allows the EX60 to support drivers proactively. Instead of reacting to danger at the last moment, the car can anticipate potential risks, provide timely assistance and help drivers respond calmly when the unexpected occurs. The aim is not to replace the driver, but to act as a vigilant partner, quietly supporting decision-making in critical moments.
What sets the EX60 apart is its ability to learn. With a processing capacity exceeding 250 trillion operations per second, the car does not merely analyse data in isolation. It draws on collective insights from Volvo vehicles around the world, including information from accidents and near-misses, to continuously refine its understanding of real-world driving conditions.
This shared intelligence means the EX60 improves with every mile driven, not just by its owner, but by the entire global Volvo fleet. Over time, the car becomes better at recognising hazards, predicting outcomes and delivering assistance that feels intuitive rather than intrusive.
Designed to Improve Over Time
The EX60 embodies Volvo Cars’ vision of a vehicle that grows more capable long after it leaves the showroom. Regular over-the-air updates ensure that new features, refinements and improvements are delivered seamlessly, without the need for dealer visits.
This continuous evolution is made possible by the Volvo Cars Superset tech stack, a unified software foundation designed to support ongoing innovation across the company’s model range. For EX60 owners, it means a car that is great from day one, and designed to become even better with age.
As Gemini becomes more deeply integrated into the vehicle’s systems, new possibilities will emerge. Future updates will enable Gemini to use the car’s cameras to see the world as the driver sees it, answering questions about surroundings, objects and situations in real time. This visual intelligence has the potential to transform navigation, exploration and everyday driving tasks, further blurring the line between car and digital assistant.
Electric Performance Without Compromise
While much of the attention surrounding the EX60 focuses on its intelligence, the fundamentals of electric performance remain central to its appeal. Volvo has made it clear that advanced technology should not come at the expense of range or convenience.
The EX60 sets a new benchmark for electric Volvo models, offering up to 810 kilometres of range on a single charge in all-wheel drive configuration, based on preliminary WLTP testing. This figure places it ahead of many recently revealed competitors, reinforcing Volvo’s commitment to practical, long-distance electric mobility.
Charging performance is equally impressive. When connected to a 400kW fast charger, the EX60 can add up to 340 kilometres of range in just ten minutes. This capability significantly reduces charging anxiety and aligns the electric ownership experience more closely with the convenience expectations of combustion-engine drivers.
A New Chapter for Volvo Cars
The Volvo EX60 is more than a new model launch. It is a statement about where the brand believes the future of mobility is headed. By prioritising natural interaction, human-centric design and continuous improvement, Volvo is redefining what intelligence in a car truly means.
Rather than overwhelming drivers with technology, the EX60 uses AI and computing power to simplify, support and enhance everyday journeys. It listens, understands and learns, all while maintaining Volvo’s uncompromising commitment to safety.
When the EX60 is revealed on 21 January 2026, it will not simply showcase a new electric SUV. It will introduce a new way of relating to the car itself, one where conversation becomes the most powerful interface of all, and technology finally feels human.
The reveal event will be livestreamed on 21 January 2026, marking the beginning of a new chapter in Volvo’s electric and digital evolution.
