Polestar Adds Browser To Infotainment System With The Help Of Vivaldi

Polestar has introduced the first full-scale browser to the Android Automotive OS with the help of Norway’s Vivaldi.

The automaker turned to the tech company as a result of customer feedback asking for an internet browser that operates in much the same way as the browser on a mobile device. This means that Polestar 2 owners will be able to use tabs, stream music and videos, and do some online shopping from the comfort of their car.

“It’s great that we could answer our owner community’s desire for a browser with Vivaldi as a Christmas present,” Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath said. “Now there is a whole new world of web content you can explore in Polestar 2 – even some of your favorite streaming platforms.”

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The app brings more functionality to the Polestar 2’s 11-inch infotainment screen. The browser, says Vivaldi, is based around flexibility and features a built-in ad blocker, a privacy-friendly translation tool, a notes function, tracking protection, and encrypted sync functionality.

“We are really proud to introduce our browser to a car for the first time, and specifically with a brand like Polestar,” said Jon Stephenson von Tetzchner, Vivaldi’s CEO. “We value transparency, privacy, and responsible innovation – including the fact that we have our servers in Iceland, one of Polestar’s newest markets. Like Polestar, we are a challenger brand, and we take a Scandinavian approach to design, that is based on trust and listening to our users.”

To ensure safety, the browser can only be used when the vehicle is parked and files cannot be downloaded to the vehicle. Streaming content, meanwhile, will only play audio if driving commences, to reduce distraction.

Polestar adds that private browsing data is not stored by the car and that an integrated voice control system is being explored for a future release.

The app is available for Polestar 2 owners in all European and North American markets, as well as in many Asia Pacific markets, but not China or South Korea.