Volvo partners with Google to bring Google Assistant, YouTube to their cars

MANILA: 2022 will be the year of saying "Hey, Google!" on the road more as Volvo Cars will start integrating Google assistant and more Google Services with their models.

As part of the carmaker's partnership with Google, the integration will allow drivers to control functions of their car through voice commands to Google Assistant-enabled home and mobile devices.

By pairing their Volvo vehicles with their Google account, drivers can directly talk to Google to remotely control a variety of functionalities, such as warming the car up on a cold winter day or locking its doors. Meanwhile, YouTube will be the first video platform to be featured and available for download in Volvo electric cars.

With YouTube in a Volvo EV infotainment, drivers can watch livestreams, news, shows, and various content while the car is charging. Volvo emphasized that YouTube only works when the car is stationary.  

In a release, Volvo said that it aims to turn its cars into "smart devices" with Google Assistant and YouTube. The carmaker added that its cars can become an "extension of drivers’ living environment." 

The applications will also work well with the car's "audio system that can rival many home set-ups" and interior that possesses "inherent restful nature," noise reduction, and comfortable seating. 

Volvo and Google announced customers will soon be able to download for their cars navigation apps like Sygic and Flitsmeister, charging apps like Chargepoint and Plugshare, and parking apps like SpotHero and ParkWhiz in select markets. 

Photos from Volvo

Also read: Volvo to team up with Qualcomm to improve infotainment technology