Reshaping China's EV Lineup with Volvo's EM90 Electric Minivan

author: FutureCar Staff    

Volvo has announced its first fully electric minivan, the EM90, which is set to be released in China. The upcoming model is designed to provide a comfortable and enjoyable experience for passengers, resembling a Scandinavian living room on wheels. It is expected that the EM90 will be based on the Zeekr 009 MPV, a six-seater model that features CATL's cell-to-pack battery technology and advanced driver-assist safety tech from Mobileye.

The Zeekr 009 boasts impressive performance, with an acceleration of under 4.5 seconds from 0 to 60 mph and a drag coefficient of 0.27. Thanks to its battery technology, the driving range is rated at up to 511 miles on the CLTC cycle, which is equivalent to around 400 EPA miles. Volvo Cars, owned by Zhejiang Geely Holding in China, is affiliated with the Zeekr brand.

Volvo's decision to introduce a luxury electric minivan comes as the company shifts its focus away from sedans in certain markets. While it has already discontinued sedan sales in the U.K., no such announcement has been made for the U.S. market. However, with Volvo's commitment to transitioning to electric vehicles by the end of the decade, the company is clearly reshaping its lineup. This is evident in the upcoming release of the U.S.-bound Chinese-made EX30 EV, priced at $35,000.

In recent years, the minivan segment of the U.S. vehicle market has experienced stagnation. This can be attributed to consumers' preference for SUVs, which offer a rugged style but are less practical than minivans. Additionally, the lack of innovation in the minivan segment has contributed to its decline. Toyota attempted to revitalize the segment with its hybrid-only Sienna, which can accommodate up to eight passengers and achieves a fuel efficiency rating of 36 mpg.

Although the U.S. market already offers a plug-in minivan, the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, Volvo's entry into the electric minivan market indicates that there is still room for growth and innovation. The Pacifica Hybrid, a plug-in hybrid, has been available since 2017 and offers an electric range of 32 miles before switching to hybrid mode with a combined fuel efficiency of 30 mpg. Chrysler has expressed its intention to further reinvent the minivan by introducing an electric version in its future lineup.

The EM90 will be officially unveiled on November 12, and pre-orders will be available for customers in China on the same day, according to Volvo's announcement.

FutureCar Staff