Volvo Trucks announced Thursday its over-the-air software updates will now run without interrupting operation. That means it will run overnight, during driver breaks or while parked without requiring drivers to remain with the vehicle.
"We are always striving to maximize our customers' uptime, and this is an important milestone," says Peter Voorhoeve, president of Volvo Trucks North America. "Drivers will be able to start a software update, lock the truck and walk away, whether that's for a break or at the end of the day, and return to an updated vehicle. It's a simpler way for fleets to keep trucks current without interrupting operations."
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The update feature will be launched later this year. It's possible thanks to the new, connected 24-volt platform in North America. The over-the-air updates has enabled more than 80% of connected trucks operating on the latest software and a 24% reduction in unplanned stops, Volvo says.
"While this type of functionality is becoming standard in the passenger car industry, its impact is significantly greater in trucking, where vehicles are in operation for eight to 11 hours a day," Voorhoeve says. "Any time saved directly translates into increased productivity for our customers."
Volvo completed more than 18,000 over-the-air software updates in May with systems capable of dispatching up to 10,000 updates per day across its connected fleet.
