Exclusive: Volvo tells us why having Gemini in your next car is a good thing

Volvo is set to unveil its latest electric vehicle, the EX60 SUV, next week, showcasing a commitment to innovation within the automotive industry. Built on a new, exclusively electric platform, the EX60 incorporates cutting-edge design features, including a cell-to-body battery pack, lightweight castings, and a sophisticated electronic architecture powered by a series of computers capable of executing over 250 trillion operations every second. This next-generation software-defined platform is named HuginCore, inspired by Norse mythology. Alwin Bakkenes, head of global software engineering at Volvo Cars, explained the significance of the name, drawing parallels between the platform and Hugin, one of the ravens that gathered knowledge for the god Odin. He highlighted that, similar to Hugin, this technology platform assimilates data from various sensors and actuators within the vehicle, enhancing its ability to perceive and respond to its environment. HuginCore represents Volvo's second iteration of a software-defined vehicle platform, integrating valuable lessons learned from the development of the EX90. Bakkenes acknowledged the challenges faced during the transition to becoming a tech-centric company that manages both hardware and software components. He noted the difficulties in launching the EX90 and emphasized how those experiences have informed the development of the EX60. For current Volvo owners, there is good news: the introduction of the new platform, known as SPA3, and HuginCore will not leave older SPA2 models behind, ensuring that existing vehicles will continue to receive support and updates.