To improve the Apple CarPlay experience for its customers, Volvo has released an over-the-air update to more than 650,000 of its vehicles with Google built-in, with one main enhancement being the ability to now present Apple Maps and other navigation apps on the driver display behind the steering wheel.
In addition to this, call information also features on the driver display, with the driver now also able to answer, reject and end calls using buttons on the steering wheel. The center display can also be used to hang up or mute a call. Other changes include the CarPlay tile in the center display showing media information, making playing, pausing or skipping songs more efficient.
To further improve the in-cabin experience, drivers can now change between driver support functions using the steering wheel buttons, such as whether the wing mirrors fold or not when locking their Volvo vehicle. Additional changes brought around by the update include engine calibration optimizations and bug fixes to other software elements.
“When our customers get in their Volvo car, we want it to be a better experience than the day before – our over-the-air updates are a cornerstone in this ambition,” said Alwin Bakkenes, head of software engineering, Volvo. “The latest update on CarPlay features is an excellent example of how we continuously improve and add features and functions together with our technology partners, making our customers’ experience richer over time.”
