Volvo Refreshes 2028 XC40 in US with Google Gemini AI, Discontinues EX40
Volvo announced a refreshed 2028 XC40 hybrid SUV for the US market featuring restyled exterior design, upgraded interior tech, and Google Gemini AI integration, while discontinuing the pure-electric EX40. The EX40 is expected to be replaced by a slightly larger EX50 electric SUV in the future. This move highlights how automaker lineups are evolving to balance hybrid options alongside next-generation electric vehicle platforms, while also showcasing the growing trend of embedding generative AI directly into in-car infotainment. Drivers gain more intuitive AI voice assistance for route planning, messaging, and navigation directly within the vehicle. The updated XC40 features a larger 11.2-inch central display with a simplified interface, refreshed 'Thor's Hammer' LED headlights, and an updated sensor suite—including 12 new ultrasonic sensors and upgraded radars—enabling advanced safety features like automatic emergency steering, lane change assist, and door-open warnings.
## BACKGROUND
The XC40 is Volvo's compact luxury SUV platform, previously available in both hybrid and all-electric configurations (with the EV version formerly named EX40). Volvo is transitioning its future electric lineup toward the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA3), a lower-cost, highly integrated EV technology base designed to underpin its next-generation electric vehicles.