AI-Powered Volvo EX90 Hits US Roads with NVIDIA Tech

Volvo Cars launches groundbreaking EX90 SUV: The fully electric Volvo EX90, built on NVIDIA’s advanced computing technology, is now rolling out from the automaker’s South Carolina assembly line to U.S. dealerships.

• The EX90 is powered by the NVIDIA DRIVE Orin system-on-a-chip (SoC), capable of processing over 250 trillion operations per second (TOPS).
• This advanced computing system, running NVIDIA DriveOS, manages all vehicle functions, from safety features to autonomous driving capabilities.
• The SUV boasts Volvo’s most advanced sensor suite to date, including radar, lidar, cameras, and ultrasonic sensors for comprehensive 360-degree surroundings awareness.

Future-proofing with NVIDIA DRIVE Thor: Volvo Cars has announced plans to integrate the next-generation NVIDIA DRIVE Thor SoC into its upcoming fleet before the end of the decade.

• DRIVE Thor offers a significant performance boost, delivering 1,000 TOPS – quadrupling the processing power of DRIVE Orin while improving energy efficiency sevenfold.
• The new platform incorporates NVIDIA’s latest Blackwell GPU architecture, enabling advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and self-driving features.
• Volvo Cars CEO Jim Rowan emphasized that DRIVE Thor will enhance software scalability, improve safety, and potentially increase profit margins.

AI-powered safety and innovation: Volvo Cars and its software subsidiary, Zenseact, are investing in NVIDIA DGX systems for cloud-based AI model training to develop cutting-edge safety features.

• The NVIDIA DGX systems will be used in Volvo Cars and Zenseact’s AI training hub in the Nordics, forming one of the largest such centers in the region.
• This investment aims to optimize data annotation processes and accelerate ADAS and autonomous driving software development.
• The DGX systems are expected to double performance and potentially halve time to market for new safety features.

Enhancing the driving experience: The integration of NVIDIA technology both inside vehicles and in the cloud allows Volvo Cars to deliver a superior and safer driving experience.

• DRIVE Thor’s advanced capabilities will enable new in-vehicle experiences powered by generative AI.
• The comprehensive sensor suite and powerful processing capabilities of the EX90 support Volvo Cars’ commitment to safety.
• By leveraging NVIDIA’s technology, Volvo Cars aims to provide customers with peace of mind, regardless of their destination.

Industry implications and future outlook: Volvo Cars’ adoption of NVIDIA’s advanced computing platforms signals a significant shift in the automotive industry towards AI-driven vehicles.

• This partnership demonstrates the growing importance of powerful computing systems in modern vehicles, extending beyond traditional automotive engineering.
• The focus on AI training and development highlights the crucial role of software in defining the future of automotive technology and safety features.
• As other automakers observe Volvo’s progress, we may see an industry-wide acceleration in the adoption of advanced AI and computing technologies in vehicles.