Polestar, a premium electric vehicle (EV) company, has released the Vivaldi web browser for the brand’s Polestar 2 electric car. Polestar owners had said they wanted the inclusion of a full-scale web browser in the car that allows them to browse the web as they might on their mobile devices. It is the first browser available for Android Automotive OS.
Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar CEO, said: “It’s great that we could answer our owner community’s desire for a browser with Vivaldi as a Christmas present. Now there is a whole new world of web content you can explore in Polestar 2 – even some of your favourite streaming platforms.”
Developed for Polestar 2 by the Vivaldi team in Norway, the app brings extensive browser functionality to the 11-inch centre display with Android Automotive OS in the car. It functions similarly to how it would on a mobile device with tabbed browsing, streaming ability, online shopping and top security measures.
The Vivaldi browser is built around flexibility and features a built-in ad blocker, privacy-friendly translation tool, notes function, tracking protection and encrypted sync functionality.
Jon Stephenson von Tetzchner, Vivaldi CEO, adds: “We are proud to introduce our browser to a car for the first time, and specifically with a brand like Polestar. Our technological and sustainability ambitions are well aligned.
“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.”
The Vivaldi browser for Polestar 2 is now available in all European, North American and certain Asia Pacific markets.
