The Volvo XC90 and EX90 are the model’s flagship fashions, however the Swedish marque is eager on stepping up a measurement to tackle the Mercedes-Benz GLS and BMW X7.
Throughout a briefing final week in Stockholm, Volvo CEO Håkan Samuelsson informed the media demand for three-row SUVs continues to develop within the US and China.
In a subsequent chat with Automotive Information, he went additional, stating: “Larger SUVs, that’s one thing we’re wanting into.” Nonetheless, Mr Samuelsson cautioned such a car has but to be green-lit.
If an extra-large Volvo SUV have been to be given the go-ahead, it’s possible it might be produced within the automaker’s US manufacturing unit in South Carolina, given the corporate’s coverage of manufacturing autos the place there’s biggest demand. At present, fashions inbuilt China appeal to heavy tariffs when shipped to the US.
The South Carolina plant at present produces the Volvo EX90 and Polestar 3 electrical SUVs, and is scheduled to start manufacturing of the XC60 in 2027. Final September, the corporate confirmed it might be including a plug-in hybrid to the manufacturing unit’s roster within the not-too-distant future.
Mr Samuelsson stopped in need of confirming Volvo’s desired bigger three-row SUV will likely be produced in South Carolina, telling the commerce publication the brand new automotive “could also be a much bigger one”, and saying the plug-in hybrid could be “very engaging for US clients”.
Erik Severinson, Volvo’s chief industrial officer, informed Automotive Information a bigger SUV must be “not too massive for one more market”, hinting it could be appropriate for Europe too.
That guidelines out a hulking SUV to tackle the likes of the Cadillac Escalade, possible putting the brand new mannequin into the fray towards the BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS, each of that are round 5.2m lengthy. The prevailing XC90 and EX90 are each across the 5.0m mark.
It’s unknown what platform any X7 competitor would use, however there are two main contenders. The primary is an up to date model of the Scalable Product Structure that underpins the XC90.
Mr Severinson hinted at one other risk, noting Volvo has “distinctive entry to the Chinese language market, like no different Western OEM has” due to its proprietor Geely. He described a capability to “collaborate on elements, platforms, manufacturing websites” as Volvo’s “superpower”.
Volvo has already used this entry to show the Zeekr 009 into the Volvo EM90 individuals mover. The closest SUV within the group’s lineup to an X7 rival is the 5.2m Zeekr 9X, which is predicated on the agency’s Scalable Expertise Structure.
Obtainable completely as a 2.0-litre plug-in hybrid, the entry-level 9X has two electrical motors for a complete output of 660kW, and a 55kWh battery good for an estimated 300km of pure-electric driving underneath the beneficiant CLTC normal.
Greater-level trims sport three electrical motors for a complete output of 1030kW, and a bigger 70kWh battery to spice up the EV vary, underneath CLTC, to 380km.
