Volvo EX90 Order Books Closed Due To High Demand

Volvo has confirmed it's been forced to temporarily close order books for its next all-electric SUV, the EX90, due to higher-than-expected demand. Production will get underway in the final business quarter of this year at two locations: Charleston, South Carolina and Chengdu, China. The Geely-owned automaker did not disclose when order books will re-open.

The three-row, seven-seat EX90 will not immediately replace the brand's existing mid-size SUV, the XC90. The latter is combustion-powered with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine under the hood but has been updated for the 2023 model year with 48-volt mild-hybrid technology. Depending on trim level, outputs range from 247 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque to 295 hp and 310 lb-ft.

The EX90, meanwhile, is expected to produce around 496 horsepower and 671 lb-ft of torque courtesy of a 111-kWh battery pack - the very same unit that powers the also recently revealed Polestar 3.

Exact US range figures have not been released but we expect the EX90 to achieve a range of 300-350 miles on a single charge based on the previously-announced CLTC driving cycle. The EX90's popularity should encourage Volvo and Geely management that the decision to become an EV-only automaker by 2030 is the right one.

The ICE phase-out remains ongoing but, evidenced by the XC90, it won't happen overnight. During this transition, Volvo will continue to unveil new pure battery electrics aside from the EX90.

Next up is the EX30 which will slot below the XC40 Recharge and C40 Recharge. A June 15 reveal remains on schedule and unlike previous Volvos, the EX30 will focus on subscriptions.

Volvo views this business model as a new way to reach younger buyers. There's no indication whether this approach will be taken with the EX90 since it's a more expensive vehicle that'll be out of reach for those youthful customers. Fortunately, Volvo already confirmed it won't copy the BMW subscription model which requires additional payment for some features.