GOTHENBURG, Sweden: Volvo Cars is stepping up its collaboration with Google to become the lead development partner for Android automotive software, a move the company says will allow it to deliver the latest tech features to customers faster than its competitors.

"This really gives us an edge in building fantastic customer experiences," said Alwin Bakkenes, Volvo's head of global software engineering, in an interview with Reuters. "We're going to be able to be fast in bringing new capabilities, new features and new experiences to our customers."

While the two companies have been working together for over a decade, this deeper partnership will now enable Google engineers to test new software directly in Volvo vehicles, dramatically reducing the time it takes to roll out updates to the road.

Bakkenes noted that the auto industry typically lags two Android versions behind smartphones, meaning users are often unable to access features they're already used to on their mobile devices. Volvo currently uses Android 13, but at Google's I/O developer conference in California, the companies showcased the Volvo EX90 electric SUV running Android 15—the newest version of the operating system—which will be available in production vehicles later this year.

"Others might have to wait two years to get" access to Android 15, Bakkenes said.

The companies also demonstrated Google's Gemini AI integrated into the EX90. The technology enables features like asking the car to search your messages or emails for a destination or generating a shopping list based on a recipe—bringing what Bakkenes called a more "human-centric experience" to Volvo drivers.