- Volvo is working on six new EVs to be unveiled in the next four years, according to a report from Reuters.
- Along with electric replacements for the brand’s SUVs and sedans, Volvo is said to be designing an electric minivan based on the Zeekr 009 (shown above), leveraging its status as part of the Geely Group.
- The Volvo minivan will reportedly have a more “emotional” design, but it likely won’t be sold in the US, instead intended for Asian markets where luxury pickups are a popular choice.
Late last year, Volvo unveiled its first purpose-built EV, a three-row SUV called the EX90. Essentially the electric equivalent of the XC90 which has been a mainstay in the company’s range since 2002, the EX90 is the first step towards Volvo’s goal of having an all-electric portfolio by 2030. Now more details about the Swedish automaker’s transition to EVs are emerging, with Reuters reports that Volvo will launch at least six new EVs by the end of 2026, covering each of the key segments.
The 2024 Volvo EX90.
The EX90 will be followed up with electric replacements for the XC60 and XC40 crossovers, as well as the S60 and S90 sedans. During the EX90 reveal, Volvo also teased an EX30 that will be revealed on June 15 and will slot in slightly smaller than the XC40 Recharge, although it’s not clear if this model will be sold in the US. The future of Volvo’s iconic wagons is less certain. —in February 2022, a report indicated that two wagon-like “activity vehicles” were on the cards, but it’s still unclear exactly what form these models will take.
The two sources cited by Reuters claims that Volvo’s EV offensive will also include a luxury minivan focused on Asian markets. This model, which benefits from the fact that Volvo is 82 percent owned by the Chinese giant Geely, will be closely related to the Zeekr 009. Unveiled last fall, the 009 has a brutalist design and offers a colossal 140 .0 kWh battery pack that promises 500 miles. range and a dual motor drive system with 536 horsepower. The 009’s luxurious cabin has three rows of seating, with prices starting at the equivalent of $74,000 in China.
The van, along with the upcoming electric sedans, is being developed at Volvo’s Shanghai R&D center, which Reuters reports grew to include a design staff of 60 people and migrated to a larger facility. The van will also move further away from the brand’s traditionally rugged, serious designs and will hew closer to the Zeekr’s dramatic styling, which is a key facet of many of the luxury vans popular in Asia, such as the Toyota Alphard. The Zeekr 009’s design and capable powertrain have us excited to see what Volvo is working on, and we hope Volvo will consider bringing it stateside as an alternative to America’s obsession with massive SUVs.
