The Swedish brands Polestar and Volvo were not physically present at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, but they were in one of the most visited stands of the largest electronics event in the world: Google.
It turns out that the Silicon Valley technology company presented the latest improvements and developments for Android Automotive, and incidentally announced that both Swedish firms, today jewels of the Geely Group, will incorporate them from the launch of the Volvo EX90 and the Polestar 3.
The main new development is Google’s HD Map, which is said to be a highly accurate map containing details not normally available on traditional maps. The enhanced level of detail is essential for assisted driving, improving recognition of details such as lane markings and objects such as traffic signs.
“Building on our long history of mapping the world, Google’s new HD Map is designed specifically for automakers and we’re excited to continue partnering with major manufacturers like Volvo and Polestar to improve the safety and convenience of drivers everywhere”, says Jorgen Behrens, vice president of Geo Automotive at Google.
Both the Volvo EX90 and the Polestar 3 will be the first cars in the world to use Google’s new HD map that they can combine with their sensor technology and location data, to facilitate the functions of Pilot Assist, as well as future autonomous driving functions L2 + and L3.
Owners of Polestar 2 and newer Volvo models will be able to update their systems remotely using a Google Assistant-enabled device. Google’s new HD Maps will initially be available to users in the United States, but the functionality will roll out to more markets over time.
