EX90

Make
Volvo
Segment
SUV

Volvo just debuted the EX90, its first BEV SUV, and the brand is already discussing future plans.

This is good news for American dealers, as the brand struggled with sales last quarter. In an interview with Autocar, CEO Jim Rowan hints at the future following the introduction of the all-new Volvo EX90.

Having "40 different models is not our strategy," says Rowan. "Our strategy is that we will be tight. We'll look after the demographic that we think makes sense. We've teased what's coming next, and we'd already signaled we'd do a smaller SUV. Then different formats, saloons, and estates or whatever: we'll get to that when we get to that."

Rowan also makes it clear that the EX90 will debut many features that will filter down to upcoming smaller models. Volvo has debuted numerous new safety features in the EX90 that we expect will begin to trickle into the rest of the lineup, for example.

"The big secret for us is that we can use the generation of technology that we have in one view and transpose it into the other. Sometimes that will be the same platform. Sometimes that will be the same software and silicon. And we'll put that in different models," Rowan told Autocar.

The EX90 sits on Volvo's SPA2 platform, while that SUV Rowan made mention of will sit on the smaller SEA architecture.

That smaller platform will be the key to cheaper models, says Rowan. "We have another platform that takes us into full core computing and lower cost." Volvo's CEO has spoken at length about EVs and price parity, which he believes to be critical in the future.

It also lends itself to smaller cars, like crossovers, small SUVs, and maybe even electrified sedans and wagons. Rowan concluded his talk with Autocar with a final hint about upcoming models.

"What's going to happen in the future is that people making big purchase decisions about a car are going to think about what a residual value of an ICE car is going to be in three or four years, and should I buy a BEV because it's going to have a higher residual value? We need to make sure we are positioned in all those markets."