Volvo Cars

Connected mobility at scale

context

The Volvo Cars app is a mobile platform extending the vehicle experience beyond the car. It centralizes remote control, navigation planning, charging management, service coordination, and support within one connected system. As Volvo accelerated its transition toward electric vehicles, the app became a critical interface between the driver, the vehicle, and external infrastructure such as charging networks and subscription services. The objective was to simplify ownership and make connected features predictable, secure, and easy to use at scale.

challenge

Vehicle systems are complex. Remote commands must be reliable. Charging infrastructure varies by region. Maintenance workflows involve multiple stakeholders. Safety and privacy standards are high.

The challenge was to translate technical vehicle states and infrastructure dependencies into clear, intuitive mobile interactions. Users needed confidence when locking their car remotely, scheduling charging overnight, or checking battery range before a trip. For electric vehicles in particular, charging had to feel simple and integrated into daily routines rather than a technical task.

deliverables

Charging UX

Trip integration

Interaction design

Remote control

Battery insights

Design system

Cross-functional alignment

year

2018 - 2020

Design focus

The work addressed the charging journey across three layers. First, providing clear battery level, estimated range, and charging status in real time. Information had to be reliable and easy to interpret at a glance.

Second, allowing users to schedule charging during off-peak hours, start or stop sessions remotely, and manage preferences directly from the app. Thirdly, helping drivers locate compatible charging stations, filter by speed and connector type, and understand availability before arrival. The interface translated infrastructure complexity, plug standards, charging speeds, pricing models, into predictable and actionable steps.