The new generation of the Volvo XC90 will be a reality soon. A generational change that will mean the transformation of the iconic Volvo SUV into a 100% electric vehicle. Håkan Samuelsson, CEO of the Swedish brand, has indicated that the current model will remain alive to meet the demand in markets such as the United States and China.
This year Volvo will present the long-awaited renewal of one of its flagships. The new generation of the Volvo XC90 will be a reality soon. The exclusive and luxurious SUV will undergo a comprehensive update. A generational change that will mark its commercial future forever. And it is that, the new model will bet everything on electrification at its highest level.
The XC90 will become a 100% electric SUV. It is a very risky bet considering the role that this model plays in key markets. However, recent statements by Håkan Samuelsson, CEO of Volvo, highlight the peculiar strategy that the company will follow to avoid losing market share in the elite segment where the XC90 competes.
Volvo will keep the hybrid XC90 alive
Speaking to a specialized media outlet, the top leader of Volvo has confirmed that the current XC90 will stay alive despite the arrival of the new electric SUV. What’s more, the plans are to continue improving the hybrid XC90 with a new update that allows it to be brought up to date in terms of design and technological equipment. All this as the new model begins its production process.
It is important to remember that the new generation of the XC90 will be manufactured in Charleston, South Carolina (United States). Therefore, the current model will continue to be produced at Volvo’s facility in Torslanda
(Sweden). “That’s one advantage of building the new one in Charleston. Why should we close the old one in Torslanda when there is still a market for hybrids, especially in the US and China?” Samuelsson argued.
The XC90 was Volvo’s third best-selling model globally in 2021. XC90 sales grew 17% to 108,231 units. In its mechanical offer, the plug-in hybrid variant (PHEV) stands out, which offers a high level of efficiency due to its electric autonomy. Taking into account the role currently played by the XC90 with an internal combustion engine, it is logical that the brand does not want to end its commercial journey.
Volvo will update the XC90 that we can find in the market
On the other hand, in addition to confirming that it will remain for sale, Samuelsson went a step further by highlighting that the XC90 that we can currently find on the market will undergo a new update: “We will even look to update it to make it look a little better. But in terms of technology, we will invest in the new generation of fully electric cars.”
Volvo recently announced a major investment to transform its Torslanda factory into a production center for next-generation electric vehicles. There, in addition to the XC90, the XC60 is also produced.
By the way, It is not the first time that Volvo has simultaneously marketed two different generations of the XC90. For about a year and a half the brand has been selling the first and second generation XC90.