Vivaldi in Polestar: The first browser for Android Automotive OS

With this week’s update to Vivaldi 5.0, the first browser on Android Automotive OS – and one of the first full-featured browsers available in cars – has introduced our unique two-level tab bar for Polestar customers.

Polestar 2 and Vivaldi

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Whether it’s at home, at the office, or on the go, our aim is to deliver a unique, customizable and privacy-friendly browser experience to people wherever they might be. And now, Polestar drivers can take that experience on the road.

Vivaldi is available now in the Polestar 2.

Charging up

When the pure play, premium electric car company Polestar approached us earlier this year to explore bringing our browser to the Polestar 2’s innovative infotainment system, the answer was obvious. 

A browser is both a top request from Polestar drivers and entirely novel for the platform. Until now there simply wasn’t a browser available on Android Automotive, the operating system powering the Polestar 2’s in-car infotainment system.

“We have listened to our owner community, and it’s great that we could answer their desire for a browser with Vivaldi as a nice Christmas present,” says Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar CEO. “Now there is basically no limit to the web content you can explore in Polestar 2 – even some of your favorite streaming platforms.”

Today, we are proud to introduce Vivaldi 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). And, like Polestar, we are a challenger brand taking a Scandinavian approach to design – one based on trust and listening to users.

Vivaldi browser in the Polestar 2

In the driver’s seat

Developed for the Polestar 2 by the Vivaldi team in Norway, the app brings full browser functionality to the car’s 11-inch center display. Vivaldi here functions similarly to how it would on a mobile device – with tabbed browsing, streaming ability, online shopping and top security measures.

Our focus on flexibility and feature set is alive and well in this new context too, with a built-in ad blocker, privacy-friendly translation tool, notes function, tracking protection, and encrypted sync functionality coming out-of-the-box.

The fully-fledged browser app comes with a built-in ad blocker and more.
  • Safety first: To ensure safety, the browser can only be used when parked. Streaming content will continue audio-only if driving commences. Some functional restrictions may apply, for example, files cannot be downloaded.
  • Privacy first: Private browsing data is not stored by the car. When logged into a Vivaldi account, browsing data may be shared between other devices logged into the same account. This data is not shared with Polestar.
Remote office anyone? Take video calls on the road right in Vivaldi.

Update: Vivaldi 5.0 now onboard!

On the road, the tabs can pile up. Shopping, streaming, Zoom calls. One row of tabs just doesn’t cut it. Our latest update to Vivaldi in Polestar unlocks a new level of tabs. Literally. 

All your tabs … under one (car) roof!

A solution that no other mobile browser offers,  our two-level tab bar helps you stay organized, while keeping your screen tidy. Tabs inside a group will show in a second row, but they’ll stay hidden when you don’t need them.

With this update, our Android Automotive browser is up-to-speed with our other platforms. Future updates will roll-out in sync with our regular updates across platforms every 8 weeks.


Vivaldi for Polestar 2 is available now in all European, North American, and Asia Pacific markets and will receive regular updates alongside our other supported platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android).

Driving a Polestar? I am. Let us know in the comments!

Article edited on 2022-01-20 to include information about the Vivaldi 5.0 update.

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