Volvo EX90 will be the successor to the electric XC90, scheduled to launch on November 9
Volvo is working on an electronic successor to its popular XC90, and on Wednesday the automaker provided the first details and confirmed the car’s launch on May 9. 11.
The new SUV will be named EX90 and will use the next-generation version of the SPA platform found under the XC90, aptly named SPA2. The platform was developed from the outset for electric vehicles, although it can support internal combustion engines in hybrid configurations.
EX90 will with lidar sensor mounted on the roof, along with 8 cameras, 5 radar sensors and 16 ultrasonic sensors. According to Volvo, this combination with Volvo’s driver assistance features can reduce crashes that cause serious injury or death by up to 20% and overall crashes by up to 9%.
As another measure to help reduce the chance of an accident, a driver monitor looks for signs of distraction. The EX90 is also designed to stop safely if the rider gets sick or falls asleep.
Volvo has also claimed a high level of self-driving capabilities. The EX90 will finally offer a feature called Ride Pilot, which will allow you to actually move with the naked eye on certain highways. The timing for the Ride Pilot is unclear, although the first market that has been confirmed is California.
The intro and video point to an exterior design similar to the XC90, something backed by Patent drawings submitted by Volvo with the European Union Intellectual Protection Office in July. The patent shows an SUV that looks lower and longer than the XC90.
The EX90 is expected to start selling in 2023. Production for North America and other markets will be handled at Volvo’s plant near Charleston, South Carolina. The plant is currently producing the S60 sedan for sale worldwide, but from next year will also be responsible for the EX90 and a related Polestar 3 SUV.
Despite the impending arrival of the EX90, the XC90 is still selling near record levels for the nameplate. Last year, Volvo sold 38,657 units in the US, which is the highest for the current-generation XC90 and the second-highest in the brand’s history. Therefore, the XC90 is expected to stay on sale for a period of time after the EX90 arrives.
