Volvo is introducing Engine Remote Start (ERS), which starts the engine remotely to heat or cool a vehicle's interior on a number of its MY-2012 and 2013 vehicles.

Users can activate this function via a keyfob and the vehicle’s interior temperature will return to the level a driver set when the vehicle was last parked. The vehicle’s doors will remain locked until the driver enters the car. Drivers with Volvo’s Personal Car Communicator (PCC) will see a visual confirmation on the keyfob itself when ERS is active.

Volvo built a number of safety functions into this new feature that are designed to prevent its accidental activation and keep users from leaving the engine on unintentionally. ERS will deactivate if the “Lock” button is pressed while the system is active; if the car is unlocked or any car door is open; if someone presses the accelerator or brake pedal; if someone changes the gear selector from the Park position; or if the fuel level is too low (less than 2.5 gallons). ERS also will only remain active for 15 minutes before automatically deactivating.

This feature is available on the following models: