Volvo Cars have just launched its flagship electric SUV, the EX90, which has a range of up to 600 km and introduces outstanding new software.

Launched in Stockholm overnight, the Swedish brand’s new CEO, Jim Rowan, said the EX90 won't be just a new car, it will be a highly advanced computer on wheels that he says will "get better over time" because it can receive over-the-air software updates.

The EX90 represents the start of a new era for our company in which we set a decisive course for a fully electric future, says Volvo. 

“Starting with the Volvo EX90, we’ll reveal one new fully electric car each year. By 2030, we aim to sell only fully electric cars, one of the most ambitious electrification blueprints in the automotive industry and crucial to our ambition to be a climate-neutral company by 2040,” it says.

Ben Montgomery from Volvo New Zealand says, “This will be a hugely anticipated new Volvo for New Zealand and we have already taken early expressions of interest at our retailers  – bringing together state-of-the-art tech with 7-seat practicality and cutting-edge design. Safety is in our DNA and this takes it to the next level. We expect to see the first arrivals of the all-new Volvo EX90 in 2024.”

The EX90 will be built in the USA starting next year and later also in China. By then, Volvo aims for those two production facilities to be climate-neutral.  

“The Volvo EX90 is a statement for where we are, and where we are going,” said Rowan. “It’s fully electric with a range of up to 600 kilometres on a single charge, designed to further raise our safety standards, the first Volvo car to be truly defined by its software and part of a wider ecosystem, connecting to your home and your other devices. The Volvo EX90 is the start of something new for Volvo Cars in many ways.”

The standard safety in the Volvo EX90 is also higher than any Volvo car before it. It’s designed to understand you and its surroundings to help keep you and others in traffic safe.It can also get smarter and safer over time, as it learns from new data and receives updates.

The Volvo EX90 has an invisible shield of safety enabled by the latest sensing technology, inside and outside. State-of-the-art sensors like cameras, radars and lidar are connected to the car’s high-performance core computers, where NVIDIA DRIVE runs Volvo Cars’ in-house software to create a real-time, 360-degree view of the world.

The sensors are designed to respond and react when you’re just a fraction too late. The lidar, delivered by Luminar, can sense the road in front of you, whether it’s day or night, also at motorway speeds. It can see small objects hundreds of metres ahead, creating more time to inform, act and avoid. The sensors also contribute to improving the reliability and overall performance of our assisted driving function Pilot Assist, with new steering support while changing lanes.

The cabin has a 14.5-inch centre screen that includes Google apps and services including hands-free help from Google Assistant and Google Maps. You can also stream your favourite music through the new, reference-quality Bowers & Wilkins audio system featuring Dolby Atmos as a Volvo-first, plus head rest-integrated speakers for immersive sound.

The initially available twin-motor all-wheel drive version is powered by a 111kWh battery and two permanent magnet electric motors together delivering in its performance version 380 kW and 910 Nm of torque. In combination with the brand-new chassis, this creates a great and smooth driving experience.