Volvo's High-Tech Future: Nvidia Partnership Powers Next-Gen AI-Driven Vehicles

Volvo has announced an extension of its partnership with Nvidia, and it is planning to integrate Nvidia chips into its vehicles for years to come. The announcement coincided with the launch of Volvo’s new EX90 electric SUV, the automaker’s first software-defined vehicle. The EX90 runs on Nvidia’s Orin system-on-a-chip (SoC), which can handle over 250 trillion operations per second (TOPS) and powers the car’s AI-based safety features and driving assistance systems. Volvo aims to introduce hands-free Level 3 automation via a future over-the-air software update, showcasing its commitment to evolving its technology.

In addition to the EX90, Volvo revealed that its upcoming models over the next decade will be built on Nvidia’s Drive Thor SoC, capable of 1,000 TOPS – four times the power of Orin – while being significantly more energy-efficient. This next-gen chip will enable more advanced safety features, driving assistance, and AI-driven in-car experiences. Volvo’s CEO, Jim Rowan, highlighted that integrating Nvidia Drive Thor will make the company’s in-house software more scalable, allowing for improvements in safety, customer experience, cost efficiency, and profit margins.

Moreover, Volvo and its software subsidiary Zenseact are establishing one of the largest data centres in the Nordic region to boost AI usage in developing car safety software. Zenseact will utilise Nvidia’s DGX AI supercomputing infrastructure to speed up AI model training, enhancing its ability to innovate quickly and develop safer products.

However, Volvo is revisiting its goal of producing only electric vehicles by 2030, adjusting its strategy due to shifting market conditions and customer demands. Instead, Volvo aims for 90 to 100 per cent of its sales by 2030 to be electrified vehicles, a mix of fully electric and plug-in hybrids, while still offering combustion engines with mild hybrid systems.