Volvo has revealed a refreshed product roadmap for its retailers in the US and Canada as the Swedish brand moves fully towards a zero-emissions future.
At a Sept. 17 meeting attended by Volvo Cars CEO Jim Rowan and Chief Commercial Officer Bjorn Annwall, the automaker committed to introducing 10 new and updated models over the next 24 months, according to dealers who attended. Volvo unveiled the revamped XC90 large crossover, and retailers got to drive the new U.S.-built, battery-powered EX90 compact crossover, which arrives this year.
Also in development are the EX60 midsize electric crossover, ES90 sedan and a new long-range plug-in hybrid crossover.
Globally, Volvo plans to launch a new model and a mid-cycle update annually for the next eight years.
Volvo Car USA and Canada President Michael Cottone told Automotive News that the planned products “are exactly what luxury car buyers are looking for now and in the future.”
“We’re just warming up,” Cottone said.
The lineup reflects Volvo’s recalibration in an ambitious race towards an all-electric portfolio by 2030.
On Sept. 4, the automaker confirmed it would lower that target, citing slower adoption of electric vehicles in key markets such as the U.S. and China, as well as pressure on profits from rising tariffs on electric vehicles and components made in China.
U.S. sales of Volvo’s first-generation electric models fell 74 percent to 1,981 in the first half of the year, while sales of plug-in hybrids soared 75 percent. Volvo said it now aims for PHEVs and battery-only models to account for at least 90 percent of its sales by 2030.
Volvo will continue to invest in its high-volume mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid models, the XC90 and XC60, by upgrading them with energy-efficient, high-density electric motors and more advanced batteries.
“We’re making sure we’re [going to] keep mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid technology competitive and available through 2030 and beyond if needed,” Annwall told Automotive News in early September.
One dealer said he left the meeting certain that the brand had abandoned its electric-or-nothing strategy in favor of a more pragmatic approach to meeting short-term customer demand with a diverse mix of powertrains.
There were concerns about the retailer’s profitability and how Volvo would handle it, said the dealer, who asked not to be identified.
“Volvo’s No. 1 responsibility is product, and they have shown a promising product and technology roadmap,” he said. “Volvo is committed to meeting the customer where they are.”
Volvo’s new long-range PHEVs will be based on the first-generation Scalable Product Architecture platform, or SPA1, that underpins Volvo’s XC90 and XC60 crossovers.
Erik Severinson, Volvo’s director of product and strategy, said the electric range of the new PHEVs would be a “significant improvement” over the XC90’s 33 miles.
“SPA1 is a very flexible architecture,” Severinson said. “We can continue to upgrade SPA1 for even longer-range PHEVs.”
The XC90 and XC60 crossovers will also benefit from the new longer-range batteries, energy-efficient electric motors and technology foundation that Volvo is developing for its next-generation electric vehicles.
The updated three-row flagship XC90 features an improved suspension and design cues from the EX90. Similar updates are planned for the electrified XC60 and XC40.
Volvo’s next generation of EVs will debut with the small-displacement ES90 sedan next year. That model, built in China at Volvo’s Torslanda, Sweden, is aimed at the Chinese market but will be sold in North America.
The ES90 will compete with the Tesla Model S, Mercedes-Benz EQE and BMW i5 and will be the last model based on the second-generation SPA2 platform.
A dealer previously described the sedan as having a fastback design and a “bigger presence” than the gasoline-powered S90. The EV will be offered in single- and dual-motor variants and is expected to deliver 300 to 400 miles on a single charge.
The ES90 is scheduled to be followed by the EX60 crossover in 2026. That model and future EVs will be based on the SPA3 platform and powered by Volvo’s latest-generation electric motors developed in-house. Volvo said it is targeting 93 percent efficiency with the new motors, up from 85 percent in its first EVs and 91 percent now.
SPA3 models will feature higher-density battery cells that offer longer range. The battery pack will be part of the vehicle’s body structure, reducing weight and cost and creating more interior space.