Volvo EM90 electric minivan reshaping China's EV lineup

author: FutureCar Staff    

Volvo has announced its first fully electric minivan, the EM90, and has confirmed that it will be available in China. The upcoming model is designed to provide a comfortable and enjoyable experience for passengers, with Volvo describing it as a "Scandinavian living room on the move." The EM90 is expected to be based on the Zeekr 009 MPV, which features CATL's cell-to-pack battery technology, seating for six, and advanced driver-assist safety features based on Mobileye technology. Volvo Cars is owned by China's Zhejiang Geely Holding, and Zeekr is an affiliated brand.

The Zeekr 009 is known for its impressive driving range, thanks in part to its battery technology. It can achieve up to 511 miles on the CLTC-cycle, which is likely to translate to around 400 EPA miles if Volvo decides to use the same battery technology for the EM90 in the U.S. market. This range is a significant strength for the luxury minivan.

Volvo's introduction of the EM90 comes at a time when the company is shifting its focus away from sedans in certain markets. While it has already decided to discontinue sedan sales in the UK, no such announcement has been made for the U.S. However, with Volvo aiming to make all of its sales electric by the end of the decade, it is clear that the company is working to reshape its lineup. This is evident in the upcoming release of the Chinese-made EX30 EV, which will be available in the U.S. market.

The minivan segment of the U.S. vehicle market has experienced stagnation in recent years, largely due to consumers' preference for SUVs and a lack of innovation in the segment. Toyota has attempted to bring new life to the minivan market with its hybrid-only Sienna, which can seat up to eight passengers and achieves a rating of 36 mpg.

While the U.S. market already has a plug-in minivan option in the form of the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, Volvo's entry into the market with the EM90 demonstrates that there is still room for growth and competition. The Pacifica Hybrid has been available since 2017 and offers 32 electric miles on a charge, followed by 30 mpg in hybrid mode. It has been praised for its significant reduction in lifetime carbon emissions compared to non-hybrid minivans.

Chrysler has expressed its continued interest in the minivan market and has indicated that it plans to introduce an electric minivan in its future lineup. Meanwhile, Volvo will be unveiling the EM90 on November 12, 2023, with pre-orders available for customers in China on the same day.

FutureCar Staff