19:41 07-07-2026
Apple Music comes to the Volvo: streaming rolls out to 2 million cars over the air
The service reaches models built from 2020 on, and the new EX60 ships with it preinstalled. New users get up to three months free, and the EX60, EX90 and ES90 add Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos.
Volvo is upgrading its infotainment not with a new button or another screen, but with a service many owners already use every day. As 32CARS reports, Apple Music will be built into more than 2 million Volvo cars through an over-the-air update, while the new EX60 gets it straight from the factory when the first customers pick up their cars this summer. For owners, that means less reliance on the phone and music neatly woven into the car’s native system.
The update reaches the Volvo EX90, ES90, XC90, S90, V90, XC60, S60, V60, XC40, EX40 and EC40, starting with the 2020 model year. Rollout timing depends on the specific model and market. New or returning Apple Music users get up to three months free; the offer runs until July 6, 2027 and is activated through the Volvo Cars app.
The core idea is to make music part of the native interface. Drivers sign in with their Apple account and control tracks, playlists and radio through the touchscreen or by voice. Apple Music offers more than 100 million songs ad-free, so for Volvo this isn’t just “one more app” but a way to reinforce the premium feel of the cabin without changing anything in the car itself.
The EX60, EX90 and ES90 get a richer scenario: Apple Music Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos. Paired with the optional Bowers & Wilkins audio system, it should build a three-dimensional soundstage where music and vocals surround passengers rather than simply coming from the doors and dashboard. Volvo notes that these models are quieter than the brand’s earlier cars thanks to improved insulation, making the cabin a better environment for high-quality sound.
Alwin Bakkenes, head of global software development at Volvo Cars, explained the approach: “Many of our customers use Apple Music on their phones or at home today. By bringing Apple Music directly into our cars, we’re turning them into an extraordinary place to listen to music.” Spatial Audio, he added, should recreate the feeling of a concert hall or a live performance in an arena.
How much of this actually lands depends on more than the badge. A car from 2020 or newer may technically qualify for the update, but feature availability hinges on the region, the account, the Volvo Cars app, built-in connectivity and the status of the specific vehicle. Before buying a used XC60, XC90, S90 or an electric EX/EC model, it’s worth checking not only whether Bowers & Wilkins is fitted, but also whether the car can actually receive OTA updates.
The meaning runs deeper than simply adding streaming. Volvo shows that a modern car’s value increasingly shifts after the sale: software, subscriptions, sound, assistants and apps become part of ownership alongside the engine and suspension. But the more a car leans on digital services, the more it pays to know in advance whether they will work in a given country and on a given account.
Apple Music won’t make a Volvo faster or more efficient. It can, however, noticeably change the daily feel of the car — especially where the cabin is quiet, the acoustics are expensive, and the owner actually listens to music rather than just keeping a phone on Bluetooth.