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June 4, 2026
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Volvo Trucks North America is introducing unattended over-the-air software updates, giving fleets a new way to keep vehicles current without requiring drivers to remain with the truck during the update process.
The new capability, launching later this year, allows drivers to start a software update, lock the truck, and leave while the update runs during a break, overnight, or while the vehicle is parked. For fleets, the feature is designed to reduce operational disruption while supporting the growing role of software in heavy-duty truck performance, uptime, and lifecycle management.
Volvo Trucks said the new functionality builds on its remote programming service and is enabled by the company’s new connected 24-volt platform in North America. The update model reflects a broader shift toward software-defined commercial vehicles, where software can be used to continuously improve and manage critical vehicle systems after the truck has entered service.
“We are always striving to maximize our customers’ uptime, and this is an important milestone,” said Peter Voorhoeve, president, 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.”
Volvo Trucks said the expansion of over-the-air updates has helped enable more than 80% of connected Volvo trucks to operate on the latest software, while contributing to a 24% reduction in unplanned stops. The updates support continuous improvements to critical systems, including engine performance, transmission, and battery management.
For commercial fleets, that software-defined approach carries added operational significance because trucks are working assets with limited tolerance for downtime. Unlike passenger vehicles, where software updates may primarily improve convenience or user experience, heavy-duty truck updates can directly affect vehicle availability, productivity, and maintenance planning.
“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 eleven hours a day,” Voorhoeve said. “Any time saved directly translates into increased productivity for our customers.”
The ability to update trucks while they are parked or out of active use could help fleets better align software maintenance with normal operating schedules. Instead of tying updates to service visits or requiring drivers to wait with the vehicle, unattended updates create more flexibility for when and how fleets keep vehicles current.
Volvo Trucks completed more than 18,000 over-the-air software updates in May and said its systems are capable of dispatching up to 10,000 updates per day across its connected fleet.
As software becomes a larger part of commercial vehicle performance, serviceability, and uptime strategies, Volvo Trucks’ latest update capability highlights how connected platforms are reshaping fleet maintenance. For fleets managing increasingly complex vehicle technologies, the ability to update key systems remotely and with less operational interruption may become an important part of keeping trucks on the road.
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