I am looking for owners of recent Volvo and Polestar models, seeking help to better characterize a security vulnerability that I found while digging into the software stack of my own car, a Volvo EX30. Before I make the responsible disclosure to Volvo Cars, I'd like to confirm whether it affects other models as well.

This is where I need some help: I need access to the software running on the AAOS (Android Automotive OS) infotainment systems of potentially affected models. Of course only the system part of the head unit, nothing that is individual to a vehicle (device/vehicle ID, user generated data, etc.).

The particular brands/models I'm interested in:

• all Volvo Cars models that use AAOS ins their infotainment system (vehicles made in the last 3-5 years or even older models that might have gotten it as an upgrade)
• all Polestar models that use AAOS in their infotainment system (vehicles made in the last 5-6 years)

I suspect that the issue predates the arrival of AAOS, but I'm not really familiar with the Sensus architecture. Still, if somebody has a file system dump from an older Sensus infotainment system, I'd like to take a look at it too.

Here's what I need:

• a dump of parts of the file system like /product, /system, /system_ext, /vendor, etc. (or an OTA update package, i.e. *.VBF files)
• name of the vehicle model
• model year
• software version

I also wrote a non-instrusive app that can extract a file system dump from an AAOS device (of course not everything, just what any 3rd party app can read), it's available on GitHub. You can compile it yourself or I can give access to my Google Play Internal Testing track.

I'll not give away any details about the vulnerability itself before I gave Volvo a chance to fix it, so don't even ask.

If somebody is willing to help with this, I wrote a more lengthy page about the system dumper app, my motivation, myself (I don't try to hide my identity) and how you can contact me.

Of course I understand that anybody could write this with malicious intent in mind. I don't think there's much more I could do to convince people that my intentions are honest. If I don't get useful feedback/help, I'll just hand in (to Volvo Cars) what I know about the EX30 and hope they'll actually fix it. The worst that could happen is that they do an ineffective fix for the EX30, they don't fix any other models (claiming that they are not affected by the issue and I cannot prove them wrong) and in reality they all remain vulnerable and somebody with malicious intent starts working on this. In that scenario there's still the option to involve regional authorities (US, EU, etc.) and the media. Both can exercise the necessary pressure to make an actual fix happen (there has been precedent with models from other automakers).

At around 13:40 (CET) today the 2.1.2 release notes got a new paragraph in the "Improvements" section:

>One pedal drive
One pedal drive behaviour has been made more consistent with Creep off. Using Creep off, the car will brake when releasing the accelerator pedal in speeds below 10 km/h. Creep off is also available in reverse and in performance mode. You can now easily turn creep on or off via quick controls.

A couple of minutes ago the release notes update has started to roll out. It's nothing new, just what we were already to on the official FB group.

This was the old sentence:

>This update is currently not available in some markets for Ultra level cars with the 22kW on-board charger.

And it became this:

>This update is currently not available for model year 2024 and 2025 cars with the 22kW on-board charger.

I guess it took this long to trickle down/up from the FB group mgmt team to the release notes mgmt team. The essential difference is that previous it said "Ultra + 22kW charger" and now it's "MY 2024 and 2025 + 22 kW charger".

Finally! :)

https://www.volvocars.com/uk/support/car/ex30/23w36/software-release-notes/

There're significant differences compared to what leaked in June.

--------------------------

Updates in software 2.1.2

Software release date: 2026-08-25

Note

This update will be available as an over-the-air download about three weeks after the software release date.

This update is currently not available in some markets for Ultra level cars with the 22kW on-board charger. If this update is not available for your car at this time, you may receive it as part of an upcoming software release.

Important Bluetooth devices

After installing this update, you may have to pair your Bluetooth devices again. If a device appears in the list of paired devices it might not be possible to connect using that device. To resolve this, remove the old pairing and pair the car and phone again. Profile settings

Some settings connected to your profile may reset after installing the update. Make sure to check your settings and adjust them if needed.

New features

A new user interface design

We've made updates to the display's user interface to improve usability. You can now customise the contextual bar to give you quicker access to your favourite and frequently used functions. We’ve also reduced complexity within the car settings view by adding a side panel to provide a clearer overview of the different setting categories.

Vehicle-to-Load

You can now utilise bi-directional charging and power external devices directly from your car’s external charging port. This technology is known as V2L (vehicle-to-load) and means your car can be used like a mobile power bank. This requires a Volvo V2L adapter (sold separately) and once connected you can charge and power devices such as e-bikes, coffee machines and DIY equipment. Availability may vary between markets and car configurations.

Plug & Charge

We’ve added Plug & Charge functionality to your car, making public charging simpler and more convenient. With Plug & Charge, you can connect your car at compatible charging stations and charging starts automatically, with no need for apps, cards or extra steps.

Navigation

Your car’s navigation app now provides more accurate energy consumption predictions, helping you better plan charging and routes.

Third-party apps

We now support Car Ready Mobile Apps (CaRMA), meaning that additional third-party apps are available in the app store, providing more entertainment and functionality.

Android 15

Your car now runs the latest operating system, Android 15.

Improvements

Drive settings

Settings for One pedal drive, the speed limiter and steering assistance are now tied to the user profile and will be remembered the next time the profile is used.

Lights

Position lights: The position lights symbol in the driver information area now activates in more scenarios.

Exterior lights: When the automatic lights mode is selected and your car is turned on and in park, the position lights and license plate lights now activate in low light conditions, while the passing beam remains off.

Keys

We’ve improved the response time for unlocking the car with the door handle while using a distance-capable key, such as a digital key or a key tag.

I just got the new 7.2.0 version of the Volvo Cars app (on my Android phone) and took a look inside.

I've shared a couple of my generic (i.e. not EX30-specific) observations in the Volvo sub, but there's something that was most likely added due to the EX30 battery recall and fire issues.

The following strings were not yet in 7.1.0, they appeared in 7.2.0:

<string name="thermalEvents_banner_action">More</string>
<string name="thermalEvents_banner_title">Battery overheating detected</string>
<string name="thermalEvents_bottomSheet_action_learnMore">Learn more</string>
<string name="thermalEvents_bottomSheet_message">For your safety, do not enter or use the vehicle. Ensure the surroundings are clear.</string>
<string name="thermalEvents_bottomSheet_title">Battery overheating detected</string>
<string name="thermalEvents_infoPage_faq_canDrive_message">No. You will not be able to drive the car after this event. For safety reasons, keep a safe distance from the vehicle.</string>
<string name="thermalEvents_infoPage_faq_canDrive_title">Can I drive or move the vehicle?</string>
<string name="thermalEvents_infoPage_faq_charging_message">If the vehicle is connected to a charging cable when this alert appears, the charging will stop automatically.<br/>Do not approach the vehicle or attempt to disconnect the cable yourself.<br/>Wait until a towing service or trained personnel can safely handle the vehicle and charging equipment.</string>
<string name="thermalEvents_infoPage_faq_charging_title">If the vehicle is charging, what should I do?</string>
<string name="thermalEvents_infoPage_faq_isSafe_message">As a precaution, <b>do not enter, start, or charge</b> the vehicle until the situation has been assessed.</string>
<string name="thermalEvents_infoPage_faq_isSafe_title">Is it safe to use the vehicle?</string>
<string name="thermalEvents_infoPage_faq_needsTowing_message">Yes. After this type of alert, the vehicle will need to be transported to a workshop for further evaluation.</string>
<string name="thermalEvents_infoPage_faq_needsTowing_title">Does the vehicle need to be towed?</string>
<string name="thermalEvents_infoPage_faq_whatToDo_message">Please keep a safe distance from the vehicle and make sure the surrounding area is clear of people, especially children and pets.</string>
<string name="thermalEvents_infoPage_faq_whatToDo_title">What should I do right now?</string>
<string name="thermalEvents_infoPage_faq_whoToContact_action">Request Assistance</string>
<string name="thermalEvents_infoPage_faq_whoToContact_message">To arrange towing, please contact <b>Volvo Roadside Assistance</b>. They can help organize safe transport of the vehicle to an authorised Volvo workshop. Since the vehicle cannot be driven after this alert, a towing service is required to move it safely.</string>
<string name="thermalEvents_infoPage_faq_whoToContact_title">Who should I contact for towing?</string>
<string name="thermalEvents_infoPage_footer_action">I understand</string>
<string name="thermalEvents_infoPage_footer_message">If you see smoke, fire, or anything unusual around the vehicle, keep a safe distance and immediately call for emergency assistance.</string>
<string name="thermalEvents_infoPage_header">Battery overheating detected</string>
<string name="thermalEvents_infoPage_message">Your vehicle has detected that the high‑voltage battery is overheating. As a precaution, please do not enter or use the vehicle until the issue has been assessed. <b>The vehicle cannot be driven and will require towing to an authorised workshop</b>.<br/><br/>Ensure the area around the vehicle is clear, and confirm that no children, pets, or other passengers are inside.</string>
<string name="thermalEvents_infoPage_sectionHeader">Important information</string>

I tried to google for the exact title of the warning, but didn't find anything, so probably Volvo didn't give out any official info on this feature yet.

(Note: this post is (mostly) about the Android version of the Volvo Cars app, so iPhone users: please don't complain that any of this is old news. :) )

Today I got the 7.2.0 update and for some reason I thought I'd look into the string resources of the app. There're a couple of things that might be news for others as well. I've started to look at the Volvo Cars app last summer, the first version I've downloaded is 5.58.1, so my remarks cover the 5.58.1 - 7.2.0 era.

1. Contacts and calendar integration

The app's manifest had declared the READ_CONTACTS permission for ages. It was already there in 5.58.1, right until 6.9.1. The permission was removed in 6.10.0 and 7.0.0, it came back in 7.1.0. So Contacts integration is probably an old feature that just temporarily went away. I've never noticed it, but it might be there somewhere.

However Calendar integration probably never appeared, I don't see any READ_CALENDAR permissions ... right until 7.1.0! The app did have the strings for calendar permission handling (user consent, messages, etc.) already in 5.58.1:

<string name="permissions_calendar_body">Would you like Volvo Cars app to recommend destinations based on your calendar? If so, allow calendar access in the next step.</string>
<string name="permissions_calendar_denied_body">"Would you like Volvo Cars app to recommend destinations based on your calendar?
<string name="permissions_calendar_phone_settings_button">Open phone settings</string>
<string name="permissions_calendar_title">Calendar</string>
<string name="permissions_contacts_body">Would you like to be a safer driver by making phonecalls from you Volvo a breeze? If so, allow access to your contacts in the next step.</string>
<string name="permissions_contacts_title">Contacts</string>
<string name="permissions_driving_journal_body">Would you like to automatically track your trips and fuel/charge consumption for improved efficiency? If so, allow access to driving journal in the next 

And it's mostly the same in 7.2.0:

<string name="permissions_calendar_body">"Would you like Volvo Cars app to recommend destinations based on your calendar?
<string name="permissions_calendar_phone_settings_button">Open phone settings</string>
<string name="permissions_calendar_title">Calendar</string>
<string name="permissions_contacts_body">"Would you like to be a safer driver by making phone calls from your Volvo a breeze?
<string name="permissions_driving_journal_body">"Would you like to automatically track your trips and fuel/charge consumption for improved efficiency?
<string name="permissions_location_body">"Would you like the Volvo Cars app to show your position relative to your Volvo? 
<string name="permissions_location_title">Location</string>
<string name="permissions_next_button">Next</string>
<string name="permissions_push_body">"Would you like to receive personalized important information? You can modify these in the app settings.
<string name="permissions_push_title">Push notifications</string>

But the actual Android permission for reading and writing the user's calendar didn't appear until 7.1.0. So Calendar integration could appear in the near future (if it's not there already ... I never give access to contacts/calendar to any 3rd party apps). There already is a page on the website about Calendar integration, it says that "With certain phones". So probably it's an iPhone feature that's now being ported to the Android version as well. The page does have a Wayback Machine snapshot from last November, so it must have been up at least since then.

2. Remote Park Assist

People have reported this approx. a month ago (both posts are from July 9th):

• in this sub
• in the EX90 sub

I can confirm that strings for the feature started to appear in the app's 7.1.0 version.

They also reveal what we can expect.

<string name="rpap_agreement_checkbox_dontShowAgain">Do not show this again</string>
<string name="rpap_agreement_cta_agreeAndContinue">Agree and continue</string>
<string name="rpap_agreement_message">TO BE DONE. IGNORE WHILE TRANSLATING. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Donec suscipit auctor dui, at ultrices mi efficitur a. Curabitur ac odio eget nunc efficitur varius. Donec eget ligula a enim efficitur tincidunt. Donec eget ligula a enim efficitur tincidunt. Donec suscipit auctor dui, at ultrices mi efficitur a. Curabitur ac odio eget nunc efficitur varius. Donec eget ligula a enim efficitur tincidunt. Donec eget ligula a enim efficitur tincidunt.</string>
<string name="rpap_agreement_title">Agreement</string>
<string name="rpap_end_canceled_message">Finalizing all processes...</string>
<string name="rpap_end_canceled_title">Canceled by user</string>
<string name="rpap_end_deactivating_message">Finalizing all processes...</string>
<string name="rpap_end_deactivating_title">Terminating</string>
<string name="rpap_end_handover_cta_done">Done</string>
<string name="rpap_end_handover_message">Enter your vehicle, press the brake and shift to desired gear.</string>
<string name="rpap_end_handover_title">Ready to drive</string>
<string name="rpap_end_lock_cta_gotIt">Got it</string>
<string name="rpap_end_lock_error">Locking car failed</string>
<string name="rpap_end_lock_message" />
<string name="rpap_end_lock_success">Car locked successfully</string>
<string name="rpap_end_lock_title" />
<string name="rpap_error_alcoholLock_message">Alcohol is installed in this vehicle and prevents the use of this feature.</string>
<string name="rpap_error_alcoholLock_title">Alcohol lock</string>
<string name="rpap_error_bluetoothDisabled_cta_turnOnBluetooth">Turn on Bluetooth</string>
<string name="rpap_error_bluetoothDisabled_message">To remote park your car, we need bluetooth connection. Turn on bluetooth and try again.</string>
<string name="rpap_error_bluetoothDisabled_title">Bluetooth disabled</string>
<string name="rpap_error_chargingCable_message">Detach the charging cable and try again.</string>
<string name="rpap_error_chargingCable_title">Charging cable must be detached</string>
<string name="rpap_error_digitalKey_message">To enable Remote Parking, you phone must be enabled with Digital Key.</string>
<string name="rpap_error_digitalKey_title">Digital Key not enabled</string>
<string name="rpap_error_distantFromVehicle_message">You seem to be too far from your car. Get closer and try again.</string>
<string name="rpap_error_distantFromVehicle_title">You must be closer to use Remote Parking</string>
<string name="rpap_error_featureDisabled_message">Remote Park assist is not enabled by configuration.</string>
<string name="rpap_error_featureDisabled_title">Feature disabled</string>
<string name="rpap_error_generic_cta_cancel">Cancel</string>
<string name="rpap_error_generic_cta_gotIt">Got it</string>
<string name="rpap_error_generic_cta_restart">Restart</string>
<string name="rpap_error_generic_cta_tryAgain">Try again</string>
<string name="rpap_error_idleTimeout_message">We have disabled Remote Parking due to inactivity, but you can restart to continue.</string>
<string name="rpap_error_idleTimeout_title">You seem to be taking a while</string>
<string name="rpap_error_lowBattery_message">Recharge your vehicle to start Remote Park Assist.</string>
<string name="rpap_error_lowBattery_title">Low battery</string>
<string name="rpap_error_parkingBrake_message">Make sure parking brake is applied and try again.</string>
<string name="rpap_error_parkingBrake_title">Enable parking brake</string>
<string name="rpap_error_permissions_bluetooth_cta_allowAccessToBluetooth">Allow access to Bluetooth</string>
<string name="rpap_error_permissions_bluetooth_message">To remotely park your car, we need a Bluetooth connection. Allow the app to use Bluetooth and try again.</string>
<string name="rpap_error_permissions_bluetooth_title">Allow Bluetooth</string>
<string name="rpap_error_roadSlope_message">Road inclination too high to enable Remote Park Assist.</string>
<string name="rpap_error_roadSlope_title">Road too inclined</string>
<string name="rpap_error_sensorFault_cta_scheduleService">Schedule service</string>
<string name="rpap_error_sensorFault_message">Fault detected on sensor. Unable to start Remote Park Assist.</string>
<string name="rpap_error_sensorFault_title">Fault detected on sensor</string>
<string name="rpap_error_systemError_message">A system error is preventing the feature to start.</string>
<string name="rpap_error_systemError_title">System error</string>
<string name="rpap_error_timeout_message">We tried connecting but the car did not respond in time.</string>
<string name="rpap_error_timeout_title">"Couldn't connect in time"</string>
<string name="rpap_error_trailer_message">Detach trailer safely and try again.</string>
<string name="rpap_error_trailer_title">Trailer must be detached</string>
<string name="rpap_error_unlock_cta_unlockCarAndContinue">Unlock car and continue</string>
<string name="rpap_error_unlock_message">We need to unlock your car in order to start Remote Parking.</string>
<string name="rpap_error_unlock_title">Car needs to be unlocked</string>
<string name="rpap_error_weakSignal_message">"We're having some issues with the connection. You can try disconnecting other Bluetooth devices."</string>
<string name="rpap_error_weakSignal_title">Weak connection</string>
<string name="rpap_homeTab_card_title">Remote park assist</string>
<string name="rpap_onboarding_cta_next">Next</string>
<string name="rpap_onboarding_step1_description">Control your car remotely using your smartphone. Unparalleled convenience and precision.<br/><br/>With this feature, you can move your vehicle <b>forward</b> or <b>backward</b> from a distance, making it easier to navigate tight parking spaces or park your car perfectly without physically being inside it.</string>
<string name="rpap_onboarding_step1_label">About the feature</string>
<string name="rpap_onboarding_step1_title">Remote Park Pilot Assist</string>
<string name="rpap_onboarding_step2_description">This feature is equipped with advanced obstacle detection capabilities to ensure safety during vehicle movement.<br/><br/>As the car is controlled remotely, it continuously monitors its surroundings for any potential obstacles, such as pedestrians, other vehicles, or objects in its path.</string>
<string name="rpap_onboarding_step2_label">About the feature</string>
<string name="rpap_onboarding_step2_title">Obstacle detection</string>
<string name="rpap_onboarding_step3_description">These buttons allow you to easily choose whether your car should move <b>forward</b> or <b>backward</b>" during remote parking.<br/><br/>With a simple tap, you can switch between directions, giving you precise control over your vehicle's movement.<br/><br/>This intuitive feature ensures that you can navigate your car into tight spots with ease, making parking more convenient and stress-free."</string>
<string name="rpap_onboarding_step3_label">How to control your car remotely</string>
<string name="rpap_onboarding_step3_title">Select direction</string>
<string name="rpap_onboarding_step4_description">To start moving the vehicle, slide the arrow button to the final position. Hold until your vehicle reaches the position you desire.<br/><br/>Keep in mind that the vehicle will stop if it encounters any obstacles.</string>
<string name="rpap_onboarding_step4_label">How to control your car remotely</string>
<string name="rpap_onboarding_step4_title">Slide and hold to move car</string>
<string name="rpap_onboarding_step5_description">For safety, the app continuously checks that you are holding your phone correctly to ensure a smooth and safe operation. Keep your phone steady and upright. If the phone is tilted, the car will pause its movement. Holding the phone properly helps the car continue without interruptions.</string>
<string name="rpap_onboarding_step5_label">How to control your car remotely</string>
<string name="rpap_onboarding_step5_title">Hold phone upright</string>
<string name="rpap_onboarding_step6_description">"After maneuvering your car with the remote parking assistance feature, you can choose how to proceed. If you're finished parking, select \"Lock Car\" to secure your vehicle.<br/><br/>Alternatively, choose \"Drive Away\" to regain control and continue driving, whether to reposition the car or depart."</string>
<string name="rpap_onboarding_step6_label">How to control your car remotely</string>
<string name="rpap_onboarding_step6_title">Finalize your parking: Lock or Drive Away</string>
<string name="rpap_parking_error_doorOpened_message">Trunk and doors must be closed. Close door to continue.</string>
<string name="rpap_parking_error_doorOpened_title">Close door</string>
<string name="rpap_parking_error_driverSeat_message">Driver seat must be unoccupied. Free driver seat to continue.</string>
<string name="rpap_parking_error_driverSeat_title">Free driver seat</string>
<string name="rpap_parking_error_invalidTouch_message">Make sure to keep finger stable and inside slider.</string>
<string name="rpap_parking_error_invalidTouch_title">Keep finger on slider</string>
<string name="rpap_parking_error_movedTooFar_message">You have driven the car to the maximum distance allowed.</string>
<string name="rpap_parking_error_movedTooFar_title">Driven too far</string>
<string name="rpap_parking_error_obstacle_message">Obstacle in the path</string>
<string name="rpap_parking_error_obstacle_title">Vehicle stopped</string>
<string name="rpap_parking_error_tilted_message">Paused movement</string>
<string name="rpap_parking_error_tilted_title">Hold phone upright</string>
<string name="rpap_parking_error_trunkOpened_message">Trunk and doors must be closed. Close trunk to continue.</string>
<string name="rpap_parking_error_trunkOpened_title">Close trunk</string>
<string name="rpap_parking_error_unexpectedError_message">An unexpected error occurred and we have interrupted the process.</string>
<string name="rpap_parking_error_unexpectedError_title">Unexpected error</string>
<string name="rpap_parking_error_userTooFar_message">You are too far from the vehicle. Move closer to continue.</string>
<string name="rpap_parking_error_userTooFar_title">Move closer to car</string>
<string name="rpap_parking_inProgress_backward_title" />
<string name="rpap_parking_inProgress_forward_title" />
<string name="rpap_parking_inProgress_message" />
<string name="rpap_parking_readyToMove_message">Slide and hold button to start moving</string>
<string name="rpap_parking_readyToMove_title">Ready to move</string>
<string name="rpap_parking_selectDirection_backward">Reverse</string>
<string name="rpap_parking_selectDirection_forward">Forward</string>
<string name="rpap_parking_selectDirection_title">Select direction</string>
<string name="rpap_requirements_checklist_item_chargingCable">Charging cable must be detached</string>
<string name="rpap_requirements_checklist_item_doorsTrunk">Doors and trunk must be closed</string>
<string name="rpap_requirements_checklist_item_driverSeat">Driver seat must be unoccupied</string>
<string name="rpap_requirements_checklist_item_phonePose">Phone is in upright position</string>
<string name="rpap_requirements_checklist_item_proximity">Phone is within close proximity</string>
<string name="rpap_requirements_checklist_item_roadSlope">Road should not be inclined</string>
<string name="rpap_requirements_checklist_item_trailer">Trailer must be detached</string>
<string name="rpap_requirements_checklist_title">Requirements</string>
<string name="rpap_requirements_cta_startRemoteParking">Start Remote Parking</string>
<string name="rpap_requirements_description">To start moving you car remotely, make sure that the following requirements are met.</string>
<string name="rpap_requirements_header">Remote Parking</string>
<string name="rpap_startup_connecting_description">Establishing a secure connection with your vehicle to begin the control process.</string>
<string name="rpap_startup_connecting_title">Connecting</string>
<string name="rpap_startup_initialising_description">Preparing all systems and checking your setup to ensure smooth and safe operation.</string>
<string name="rpap_startup_initialising_title">Initialising</string>
<string name="rpap_startup_ready_description">Everything is set! Keep your phone steady to control the car without interruptions.</string>
<string name="rpap_startup_ready_title">All ready!</string>

Here're a couple of things based on the strings:

• the feature is abbreviated as "rpap" (maybe a misspelling of "Remote Park Pilot Assist"?)
• it won't work in vehicles with an alcohol lock installed
• it'll require a digital key on the phone that you want to use for this
• it'll require a bluetooth connection (between the phone and the vehicle), so the control messages probably won't go through Volvo servers (which is welcome of course, but also a bit worrying since there have been numerous hacks of bluetooth controls of vehicles in the past)
• it'll only work if the phone is in close proximity to the vehicle
• it'll not work if the vehicle is under a certain SoC (i.e. battery charge level) threshold
• it'll not work on slopes (beyond a certain degree)
• of course it will not work if a trailer is attached
• doors and trunk must be closed
• the driver's seat must be empty
• charging cable must be detached :D
• the car can be moved only a certain distance with this method

3. Stolen Vehicle Tracking

These strings started to appear in 6.5.0 (approx. February this year):

<string name="svtEducation_card_subtitle">Step by step guide on how to report</string>
<string name="svtEducation_card_title">Report stolen vehicle</string>
<string name="svtEducation_overviewScreen_cta_learnMore">Learn more</string>
<string name="svtEducation_overviewScreen_info_message"><b>If you believe your car has been stolen,</b> call the local Police and then call Volvo Assistance.</string>
<string name="svtEducation_overviewScreen_learnMore">Learn more</string>
<string name="svtEducation_overviewScreen_message">This is an overview of the steps to take, who to contact, and how Volvo can support you.</string>
<string name="svtEducation_overviewScreen_nav_title">Overview</string>
<string name="svtEducation_overviewScreen_next">Next</string>
<string name="svtEducation_overviewScreen_requestAssistance">Request Assistance</string>
<string name="svtEducation_overviewScreen_step1_description">File a report with your local police to obtain a report number.</string>
<string name="svtEducation_overviewScreen_step1_title">Obtain a Police Report</string>
<string name="svtEducation_overviewScreen_step2_description">Provide the report number so that we can start the stolen vehicle tracking procedure.</string>
<string name="svtEducation_overviewScreen_step2_title">Contact Volvo Roadside Assistance</string>
<string name="svtEducation_overviewScreen_step3_description">Volvo and the Police will cooperate to help recover your vehicle.</string>
<string name="svtEducation_overviewScreen_step3_title">Await for further instructions</string>
<string name="svtEducation_overviewScreen_steps_overview">Here is an overview of the process:</string>
<string name="svtEducation_overviewScreen_title">What to do if your vehicle is stolen</string>
<string name="svtEducation_wizardScreen1_message">"Provide them with your vehicle’s details, including the VIN, license plate number and last known location.
Ask for a copy of the police report or reference number—you’ll need it for the next steps."</string>
<string name="svtEducation_wizardScreen1_next">Next</string>
<string name="svtEducation_wizardScreen1_step_description">What to do if your vehicle is stolen</string>
<string name="svtEducation_wizardScreen1_title">Call Police and report theft</string>
<string name="svtEducation_wizardScreen2_infoMessage">For your safety and to assist in the recovery process, the location of your vehicle will only be accessible to authorized law enforcement personnel.</string>
<string name="svtEducation_wizardScreen2_message">"Once you’ve filed a police report, contact Volvo Customer Support.
Provide the report number and if your vehicle is equipped with tracking technology, we can initiate vehicle tracking and assist law enforcement in locating it."</string>
<string name="svtEducation_wizardScreen2_next">Next</string>
<string name="svtEducation_wizardScreen2_step_description">What to do if your vehicle is stolen</string>
<string name="svtEducation_wizardScreen2_title">Contact Volvo Assistance</string>
<string name="svtEducation_wizardScreen3_close">Close</string>
<string name="svtEducation_wizardScreen3_message">"Please continue to cooperate with authorities and await further instructions.
If you have any urgent concerns or require assistance, please contact Assistance immediately."</string>
<string name="svtEducation_wizardScreen3_step_description">What to do if your vehicle is stolen</string>
<string name="svtEducation_wizardScreen3_title">Await for further instructions</string>

"svt" stands for "Stolen Vehicle Tracking". It's not obvious from the strings above, but it is from the code since most of these strings are used inside the "com.volvocars.car.stolenvehicletracking" package. :)

Based on the code (com.volvocars.presentation.support.ui.contactvolvo.ContactVolvoComposeViewKt) it seems to me that the "Report stolen vehicle" button can appear on the "Contact us" screen, but I don't see it. It should be under the "Call us" button (there might be a "Text us" and an "Email us" button too based on your VolvoID account's contact preferences). Maybe it's a regional thing and not available in my country or for my vehicle (EX30)?

Afaik once you've alerted VolvoCars that the vehicle has been stolen, you won't be able to track the vehicle, they'll hand over this information only to the police. :) Perhaps to protect the alleged perpetrator from "citizen's justice"? Or it's a personal information thing. Already by default the app only shows the last position where the vehicle was parked. Perhaps this SVT feature lets them hand over the realtime tracking information of the vehicle to the police. That would make sense.

SVT has been around for ages (it appears in the user manual of the XC40 MY2019 with a last modification date of 19/03/2020), but it seems to have appeared in the VolvoCars app only lately (or at least in the Android version).

Perhaps it was in the old Volvo On Call app and it took them this long to port the feature (I mean the info page on what to do if your vehicle gets stolen).

4. Service Assistant (aka. AI assistant "Eva")

These strings are also new in 7.2.0:

<string name="nativeServiceAssistant_agent_name">Eva</string>
<string name="nativeServiceAssistant_alert_calendar_cant_add">Could not add event to calendar.</string>
<string name="nativeServiceAssistant_alert_conversation_ended">This conversation has ended.</string>
<string name="nativeServiceAssistant_cta_add_to_calendar">Add to calendar</string>
<string name="nativeServiceAssistant_cta_added_to_calendar">Added to calendar</string>
<string name="nativeServiceAssistant_cta_confirm">Confirm</string>
<string name="nativeServiceAssistant_cta_new_chat">New chat</string>
<string name="nativeServiceAssistant_cta_ok">OK</string>
<string name="nativeServiceAssistant_cta_read_less">Read less</string>
<string name="nativeServiceAssistant_cta_read_more">Read more</string>
<string name="nativeServiceAssistant_cta_retry">Retry</string>
<string name="nativeServiceAssistant_error_socket_init_failed">Unable to start the connection. Please try again.</string>
<string name="nativeServiceAssistant_header_legal_copy">I’m an AI chatbot, here to help you. By continuing, you consent to sharing your information with our affiliates and service providers pursuant to our %1$s.</string>
<string name="nativeServiceAssistant_header_legal_copy_link_privacy">Privacy Policy</string>
<string name="nativeServiceAssistant_header_title">Hi, I’m Eva, your service assistant.</string>
<string name="nativeServiceAssistant_input_placeholder">How can we help?</string>
<string name="nativeServiceAssistant_label_pilot">Pilot</string>
<string name="nativeServiceAssistant_status_connecting">Connecting</string>
<string name="nativeServiceAssistant_status_reconnecting">Reconnecting</string>
<string name="nativeServiceAssistant_title">Service Assistant</string>

It's probably just a preview (maybe appears to a couple of users via A/B testing) and will be introduced to the masses later. Based on the code it's an AI chatbot that can help you with a service appointment booking. The related code is mostly in the "com/volvocars/car/support/dsbchatassistant" package. "dsb" might be "Digital Service Booking". The code contains references to string resources that are not yet in the app (e.g. "dsb_booking_disclaimer ..."), thus this is not production-ready yet.

P.S.: in 7.2.0 new battery overheating detection alerts/warnings were added too. I've posted the relevant strings in the EX30 sub since it's quite likely that this was motivated by the EX30 battery recalls and fires.

I wanted to dig up as much information on Volvo software update release notes as I could find, going back as far as the "dark ages". :) VolvoCars has the bad habit to remove release notes of old software versions, so I had to dig into the Wayback Machine (hosted by the Internet Archive).

I've identified the following URLs (or URL patterns) that contain release notes information:

1. The first release notes were published on the https://support.volvocars.com/<langId>/Pages/article.aspx?article=b863fc0ad77848b5c0a801515970036d pages. This started around February 2016.
2. support.volvocars.com was retired somewhere during 2019 and the release notes were moved to https://www.volvocars.com/<langId>/support/topics/maintenance-service/software-updates/software-updates.
3. In early 2021 the release notes were split per model, thus the new URL template became https://www.volvocars.com/<langId>/support/software-release-notes/<modelId> (with an optional model year ID at the end).
4. In early 2023 there was a website redesign and the URL template changed to https://www.volvocars.com/<langId>/support/car/<modelId>/software-release-notes (with an optional model year ID after the modelID).
5. In early 2025 the URL template got a closing slash, so it's now https://www.volvocars.com/<langId>/support/car/<modelId>/software-release-notes/.

I've harvested all of these URL patterns from the Wayback Machine and created an URL list sorted by timestamp. If somebody was interested in the release dates of old software update versions, this is the definitive list to look at. It's 1993 URLs at the moment of writing. :)

A Reddit post can contain only 40000 characters so I'll post the list split into multiple comments.

I also saved it to pastebin (https://pastebin.com/248QtDw8) for easier download, but it's an external 3rd party service, so the list will be "safer" in the comments.

I don't know when this happened and I don't see any mention of the change in the release notes either. I usually don't charge the car beyond 95% (most of the time stop at 90%), but today I accidentally charged it to full. And to my surprise OPD still worked, when I drove off from the (public) charger. This wasn't the case 2 years ago, when I bought the car and I'm pretty sure it was the same even a year ago.

I guess that somewhere along the line of the 1.7 or 1.8 updates they implemented OPD simulation, i.e. regeneration is off and the car brakes to simulate regular OPD behaviour.

I don't remember any posts about this either, but it might have been mentioned in comments.

Anyway, I thought I'd share my "discovery". Better late than never. :)

P.S.: from comments it seems that this change was introduced in the 1.6.4 update, together with the stronger OPD level setting (i.e. "High").

There has been quite a lot of interest in Apple Music (so far a dozen or so posts) and I thought I'd test and see if sideloading the official Apple Music app works well enough for daily use in the EX30.

I've been using VLC the same way and despite the app not being optimized for use while driving (thus it cannot be opened as a foreground app), it can play back music while driving and it can be paused and switched between tracks and this is good enough for me.

Of course if you want something that fully works while driving, check out Automus on the Play Store, it has received quite favourable comments in a couple of posts here.

I myself don't actually use either of these two apps since I don't have an Apple Music subscription. I used the one month trial for this test. :)

TL;DR

The Apple Music app works just as well and with the same restrictions, i.e. you won't be able to see the app on screen while driving (if you switch to the Apple Music app, you'll get the usual "Unavailable while driving" screen), but if you start playback while parked and switch back to the home screen (with Google Maps for navigation), you'll be able to see the title of the current track and use the music control buttons to pause/play and switch to the previous or the next track even while driving. And of course the playback keeps on playing as well. :)

Looking at all the versions available on APKMirror, 4.9.7.2 (released and uploaded in September last year) is the latest at the moment that has an APK. An APK is a minimum requirement since you can only sideload these and not bundles (APKS, etc.).

I checked and the APK is authentic (downloaded from the previous APKMirror link): it is signed with the same certificate (i.e. private key) as the latest official version of the app from the Google Play Store.

I've recorded a video of my test. The sound was recorded by the EX30's microphone, so it's mono and has a bit "boxed" feeling to it. Obviously you get far better sound IRL in the car.

Also, you'll see that album cover art is loading a bit slowly and switching tracks has a couple of seconds of pause. It's likely because the car was 2 levels underground and internet connection (i.e. bandwidth) wasn't the best there. The pause is especially long before it started to play the last track that I switched to (it was a shuffle playback of the "Top 100: Global" album/selection). I'm pretty sure that on the surface with good reception it's a lot better.

There's one small bug (?): even if the vehicle is parked, if you touch the song's title or the app's icon on the home screen (above the music control buttons), it doesn't open the Apple Music app. Instead it brought another (perhaps the last opened?) app into the foreground which was AnExplorer in my test. This doesn't seem to be too much of an issue either.

If somebody wants to give this a try, I've made several posts about sideloading, here is the latest.

P.S.: afaik sideloading (i.e. installing an app from an APK) doesn't work in any other Volvo model, just the EX30.

And finally, the video of the test:

https://reddit.com/link/1ukxidb/video/7c9y45f5koah1/player

The official sw. update pages don't show it yet (e.g. the UK version still shows 1.8 as the latest update), but the JSON API already shows the new update details. Probably the website will update in a couple of hours as well.

I've just recently set up a monitoring for the JSON API that e.g. the User Manual application in the car uses to fetch the release notes and I just got a notification that this API returns now details for v2.1.

If somebody's interested, the following command shows the latest sw. version:

curl -sL -A "okhttp/4.11.0" "$(curl -sL -A "okhttp/4.11.0" "https://support-car-content.volvo.care/api/car-content/SOFTWARE_RELEASE_NOTES/<VIN>/UNTIL/9.0.0" | jq -r ".content[] | select(.language == \"en-GB\") | .url")" 2> /dev/null | jq -r ".releaseNotesDocument.body[].softwareVersion // empty" 2> /dev/null | sort -Vru | head -n1 

And this shows the entire release notes (for all available sw. versions):

curl -sL -A "okhttp/4.11.0" "$(curl -sL -A "okhttp/4.11.0" "https://support-car-content.volvo.care/api/car-content/SOFTWARE_RELEASE_NOTES/<VIN>/UNTIL/9.0.0" | jq -r ".content[] | select(.language == \"en-GB\") | .url")" 2> /dev/null | jq -r ".releaseNotesDocument"

And now for the part that's interesting to everybody, the 2.1 release notes. Note that the title says 2.0.4, but the JSON shows "2.1" as the "softwareVersion". Somebody already dropped recently in a comment that a 2.1 is coming, so this seems to be the correct version.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Updates in software 2.0.4

Software release date: 2026-06-10

This update will be available as an over-the-air download about three weeks after the software release date.

New features

A new design

We've made some important updates to the display's user interface to enhance usability. You can now customise the contextual bar to give you quicker access to favourites and frequently used functions. We’ve also added a side panel to the car settings view to provide a clear overview of the different setting categories.

Android 15

Your car now uses Android 15.

This update brings several improvements to your car’s operating system.

Improvements

Drive settings

Settings for One pedal drive, adapt to speed limit and steering assistance are now tied to the user profile and will be remembered the next time the profile is used. We've also updated One pedal drive to prevent unexpected creeping when opening the driver door or unbuckling your seatbelt.

You can now use creep settings in performance mode.

Keys

We’ve improved the response time for unlocking the car with the door handle while using a distance-capable key.

Lights

Position lights: The position lights symbol in the driver information area now activates in more scenarios.

Exterior lights: When the automatic lights mode is selected and your car is turned on and in park, the position lights and license plate lights now activate in low light conditions, while the passing beam remains off.

Fixes

This update also contains tweaks and fixes to:

Apple CarPlay: We’ve made updates to improve clarity when connecting to Apple CarPlay.

Steering wheel: Tweaks have been made to steering wheel heating to enhance predictability.

This might be trivial to some, but I wasn't really aware of it.

In countries with larger markets (like the UK, Austria, US, etc.) VolvoCars has its own local company with its own office, etc.

So if you write to e.g. Volvo Car UK Ltd (at custcare@volvocars.com), your message will be (probably) received by VolvoCars employees (or some customer care agency that VolvoCars hired).

In other countries this might not be the case. E.g. in Poland the official contact company is named as "Volvo Car Poland sp. z o.o.", but its address is the same as the address of Dom Volvo, a dealership.

This is not a one off either. In my country the official (local) VolvoCars company (likely a subsidiary?) is registered at the same address as the dealership that I bought the car from. So if I decided to complain directly to VolvoCars about some issue with the dealership (it's not yet the case, but I've read stories here with other Volvo dealerships and my country in general is not the best as far as service to customers is involved), my complaint might land directly at the dealership, without ever reaching VolvoCars itself. I mean this is not a given, but having the same street address raises suspicions.

In Slovakia they didn't even try to keep up appearances, the official company (for VolvoCars contact) is listed as "Top Auto Slovakia" and they didn't even put the Swedish VolvoCars contact info under it.

Btw. in case of my country, both the local VolvoCars office and the Swedish parent company have the same email-address, i.e. the address of the local company. They didn't even bother to publish a direct contact to the parent company. Not that I couldn't find it if I wanted to, but the intention matters.

So what I wanted to say: if you ever decide to contact VolvoCars directly, make sure that you write to the right address. Otherwise your message might end up at the dealership that you've a problem with.

I never ever enabled Trips on purpose. I don't want VolvoCars to have any legitimate reason (i.e. my permission) for keeping a record of my comings and goings. Don't take this the wrong way: of course I know that this is an illusion. They keep coordinates no matter what. I'm pretty sure there's some small print in the miles long ToS about reasons for why they "have to" do it.

However I just noticed that Trips is now enabled and it has been recording my trips since 3rd May. :o I don't think I've anything to do with it.

And I don't even see any option to make them delete my Trips data and disable the feature.

Was there any announcement (regarding Trips to be force-enabled for all) that I'm not aware of? Is Trips still disabled for others (in Europe)?

Also, if for some reason I actually did enable Trips and just don't remember (not impossible of course), there's no way to check when I've allegedly done so and I don't see a way to disable it (in the app). Perhaps there's something in the car, I'll check.

Not a fan of such surprises. :(

Just got the new version on my phone (Android).

The release notes says:

>For EX90 and ES90, you can now see additional charging statuses when charging during a trip, showing how long you need to charge before you can continue your journey and when you’re ready to get back on the road. You’ll also find a detailed lights view with an overview of your car’s lights and notifications if a light fault is detected.

Here's an image of the old (6.8.0) version's Maintenance screen:

https://preview.redd.it/68gk8ypdb6zg1.png?width=1080&format=png&auto=webp&s=4cf6e7fa219a7902a2657819a83066c9ecaad9da

And here're images (combined into one image, from left to right) of the new version with the Lights screen:

https://preview.redd.it/zepfi64jb6zg1.png?width=4320&format=png&auto=webp&s=d16690f96b8d0f8915441b1926c19b7cab22baa9