Volvo Cars adopts Horizon to accelerate software development

The partnership marks a shift in how Volvo handles its digital infrastructure. By migrating global software operations to Horizon, the company gains access to AI-assisted tools and virtualized testing that significantly reduce development cycles. Gregor Zetsche, head of connected experience at Volvo, noted that the platform provides the specialized environment required to manage the complexity of modern vehicle software.

Technological improvements under the new system are substantial. Testing speeds for Android Automotive environments are reportedly up to nine times faster, while the cost of developing infotainment features is expected to drop by 40%. Engineers can now receive feedback in minutes rather than waiting hours for build cycles to complete. Furthermore, the use of remote virtual workbenches allows teams to bypass the weeks-long delays previously associated with provisioning physical hardware, enabling developers to instantiate environments in seconds. As the lead partner, Volvo is working with Accenture and Google Cloud to refine these generative AI capabilities, with plans to expand the platform's reach to other industrial manufacturers.