Polestar’s latest software update adds YouTube, upgraded Apple CarPlay

Polestar’s latest bundle update includes YouTube truthful Polestar 2 owners tin ticker streaming video portion charging their vehicles and an updated mentation of Apple CarPlay that includes the quality to task Apple Maps onto the instrumentality cluster.

That past facet is absorbing due to the fact that it seems to connection a preview of what Apple’s next-generation mentation of CarPlay, with its enactment for aggregate displays crossed the dashboard, whitethorn extremity up looking like.

The bundle update, P2.9, is Polestar’s 15th over-the-air (OTA) upgrade since 2020. Automakers are progressively relying connected OTA updates to adhd infotainment controls, including streaming video, games, and different carnal comforts for the epoch of connected cars.

YouTube is simply a large summation to the Polestar 2 experience, with the institution offering Google’s video streaming work for the archetypal time. Polestar is 1 of a fistful of automakers that usage Android Automotive, Google’s autochthonal operating strategy for vehicles.

But earlier this latest bundle update, YouTube was not included arsenic portion of that autochthonal Android OS. Last month, Google announced it would statesman rolling retired YouTube to vehicles with Android Automotive, starting with Volvo and Polestar cars.

On the flip side, CarPlay volition look overmuch antithetic connected Polestar vehicles aft this OTA update. The Swedish institution added CarPlay for the archetypal clip past year via a bundle upgrade. Now, the telephone projection strategy volition person “extended functionality” with this latest update, according to Polestar.

Phone calls tin beryllium answered with steering instrumentality controls portion utilizing CarPlay. And Apple Maps volition show connected the gauge clump show down the steering instrumentality — successful what whitethorn beryllium 1 of the archetypal instances of CarPlay occupying 2 screens successful a conveyance astatine once.

Last year, Apple promised to revolutionize its in-car telephone projection strategy with deeper integration and enactment for aggregate displays. But the rollout has been slow, and immoderate large automakers person signaled a willingness to determination past CarPlay. Earlier this year, General Motors announced it would beryllium cutting disconnected entree to CarPlay and Android Auto with its caller lineup of EVs.

Lastly, Polestar is updating its Range Assistant app to let drivers to much accurately show their vigor usage. According to the company, a revised algorithm for the projected scope shown by the app is capable to “account for changes successful biology and different factors that power efficiency.”