Volvo Cars has announced updates to its global connected services programme and the Sensus in-car user interface, starting with the all-new XC60 and the existing and new 90 cluster cars.
Volvo’s In-car Delivery service which launched in 2015 as part of the Volvo On Call smartphone app (which was recently updated), allows one-time digital key access for deliveries to be made directly to the car and is set to expand to five additional countries during 2017.
The app will be available in around 50 countries by the end of 2017, covering more than 90 per cent of Volvo Cars’ global sales. Unfortunately, South Africa won’t be one of those countries at this point because of limited infrastructure.
In those countries where it is available however, Volvo owners can now send navigation destinations based on their calendar directly to their car, find nearby fuel stations and get help finding their car in large car parks or on unfamiliar city streets using the remote app.
“The role of Volvo On Call has changed from remote car access app to a platform that functions as the main entry point for Volvo Cars’ customers to an increasingly broad selection of connected services. We are at the forefront of this shift in car technology and service provision. Eventually you might not even need to own a Volvo to benefit from the services offered via the Volvo On Call smartphone app,” says Björn Annwall, Senior Vice President Global Consumer Experience at Volvo Car Group.
The Swedish carmaker has also improved the Sensus user interface in the new XC60 and in its 90 cluster cars with new graphics, improving usability while presenting a refreshed, cleaner and more-appealing design.
New 90 cluster cars will feature the updated Sensus interface for model year 2018, and existing cars, including XC90 and S90 in South Africa, will be upgradable to the new interface via dealers at their next service, as from May 2017.
From January 2014 all Volvo cars in South Africa are available standard with Tracker Connect and the downloadable Tracker Connect smartphone app, which offers connected roadside assistance. Volvo states that “further developments are ongoing.”