Volvo Never Made a Minivan Until Now: The EM90
In what looks like an odd move, Volvo is coming out with its first minivan in 2024. It is all-electric, too, called the EM90. Now, it seems almost weird until you understand that Volvo is a subsidiary of China’s Geely. Just like every other automaker does, it is looking to get some economy of scale across brands it owns.
One of those brands under the Geely umbrella is Zeekr, and it recently debuted its all-new minivan it calls the 009. So Volvo’s first-ever minivan is a rebadge of the Zeekr. But knowing about the Zeekr 009, you’ll be surprised at what it and the EM90 feature.
What size is the Volvo EM90 minivan?
First, this sucker is big. If you want a living room on wheels, this is it. The EM90 is called the “Scandinavian living room on the move.”
It measures 205 inches long, 80 inches wide, and 74 inches tall, with a 126-inch wheelbase. But to assure you, this isn’t just a brick-shoving atmosphere out of the way; it has a drag coefficient of just 0.27. Still, it is a bit larger than a Lexus LM. Inside is a 2+2+2, or 2+2 layout, with plenty of room without that third row.
How much power will the Volvo EM90 have?
On the exterior, what separates it from the 009 is a new fascia. The 009 has a monolithic kind of face. But the EM90 has a design more in line with what we expect from electrified vehicles. In the rear, it barely deviates from the Zeekr. Some gratuitous chrome trim and “Volvo” in place of “Zeekr” are the beginning and end of the changes.
For power, Volvo says the rear-mount motor has 200 kW, or 268 hp. But the Zeekr 009 also features a dual-motor setup for all-wheel drive. In that configuration, it offers a big 536 hp. The zero to 62 mph times are 4.5 seconds. Unbelievable, but true.
Will the Volvo EM90 come to the U.S.?
The battery is a CATL lithium-nickel-manganese-cobalt unit. With 140 kWh, it offers 511 miles of range. A base version comes with a 116 kWh battery with 436 miles of range. Either version virtually eliminates range anxiety, wouldn’t you say?
Manufacturing of both minivans will begin in China after the new year. Preorders begin on November 12 in China only, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China, or MIIT. And that is the source for the two images we’re showing here, as is required in China before production can begin. Volvo is not revealing whether the EM90 is coming to the U.S.
