Polestar swaps Google Assistant for Gemini in cars

Polestar has begun rolling out Google Gemini to its vehicles on 30 April 2026, replacing Google Assistant with the more capable AI model in the cabin. The Swedish electric automaker is launching the integration first to US-based drivers with Google accounts set to US English, with further regions and languages to follow.

Gemini brings multi-turn dialogue and contextual understanding to in-car voice interaction, allowing drivers to chain actions in a single query, ask follow-up questions and avoid restating context. Polestar says the AI assistant interprets natural conversational language rather than the distinct command phrasing required by Google Assistant.

In a statement, Hans Bleckert, Connected Car Manager at Polestar, said: “Google Gemini represents a fundamental shift for Polestar drivers and how they interact with their vehicles. Together with Google, we replace outdated command structures with an advanced AI model that enables free-flowing conversation between Polestar vehicles and drivers.”

The integration also introduces Gemini Live, a hands-free conversation mode that drivers activate with a “Hey Google, let’s talk” prompt. Real-time translation is part of the rollout, with drivers able to dictate a message in one language and have Gemini translate it before sending. The update requires no additional hardware and will be available on all Polestar models except the Polestar 1.

Source: Polestar