Volvo Cars Korea showcases SK Telecom's integrated in-vehicle infotainment service

By Kim Joo-heon Posted : September 14, 2021, 15:45 Updated : September 14, 2021, 15:45

[Courtesy of Volvo Cars Korea ]

SEOUL -- Volvo Cars Korea, the South Korean branch of Swedish automaker Volvo Cars adopted mobile carrier SK Telecom's integrated in-vehicle infotainment service for the first time in South Korea. The integrated platform provides various features such as an artificial intelligence (AI)-based mobile navigation, AI voice assistant and online music service.

Volvo had been focusing on the development of the integrated in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) service with SK Telecom (SKT). By investing some 30 billion won ($25.61 million) for two years, the connectivity service based on Android Automotive OS (AAOS) for vehicles was developed. The service provides a range of functions through voice recognition systems.

Volvo said in a statement on September 14 that the connectivity service called SKT infotainment service was applied to XC60. Drivers can control the vehicle's temperature as well as the heating and ventilation of seats using voice commands. The IVI service supports T-map, a navigation service provided by SKT. It also enables drivers to control lights and air conditioners. The IVI system can be connected to a home network to manage robot vacuum cleaners and other smart devices. 

"We worked with the leading global ICT firm SKT to provide an optimized brand experience for South Korean customers," Volvo Cars Korea CEO Lee Yoon-mo was quoted as saying. The company said drivers can lock and unlock vehicles with their smartphones and request an accident report in case of an emergency just by pressing a button.

XC60 is equipped with an air ionizer that adds antibacterial function to the existing air purifier that removes ultrafine dust as well as providing Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS).