Volvo EX90 to be revealed on November 9

Volvo has confirmed the name and reveal date of the all-new, all-electric flagship SUV that will be sold alongside the seven-seat Volvo XC90 in Australia from 2024.

The Swedish brand announced the news overnight in a press release highlighting its new flag-bearer’s advanced safety technologies, confirming the 2023 Volvo EX90 will be revealed in Europe on November 9.

Volvo previously stated that its existing XC90 will continue to be produced (in both petrol and plug-in hybrid forms) alongside its first battery-powered full-size seven-seat family SUV, which is expected to be the first in a series of EX-badged electric SUVs.

Production of the Volvo EX90, which was previously expected to be called the Volvo Embla, will commence in 2023 but first Australian imports – likely from China – won’t take place until the second half of 2024.

Unlike the upcoming Polestar 3 on which it’s based, the Volvo EX90 will offer three rows of seats like the XC90, and leaked patent images show it remain about the same size as the current XC90.

The 2023 Volvo EX90 was first previewed in 2021 by the Volvo Concept Recharge (pictured here), but the production version will come with seven seats – not four – and a traditional five-door wagon body rather than rear-hinged rear doors without a B-pillar, as seen on the show car.

Signalling the start of the official teaser campaign for the EX90, Volvo said its new flagship would mark the beginning of a new era in safety technology that will focus more on the driver, using sensors to check if they are tired, distracted or intoxicated.

“We always strive to be a pioneer, to protect lives by setting new standards for ourselves and for the industry,” said Volvo Cars CEO, Jim Rowan.

“Being safe, feeling safe, and peace of mind, that's our mission.”

Back in January, Volvo said its XC90 successor – based on the Geely-owned brand’s all-new SPA vehicle architecture – would debut its advanced new Ride Pilot autonomous cruise control system that will offer hands-free driving, but only in specific environments.

At the time, Volvo said it would initially only offer the high-tech Level 3 autonomous driving system in the US state of California, where trials have already begun.

Once verified for use by the state, Volvo said Ride Pilot – developed in-house in conjunction with self-driving sensor-maker Luminar Technologies and autonomous software specialist Zensact – would be integrated into production vehicles for use by owners on a subscription service basis.

Key to Ride Pilot is Luminar's latest LiDAR sensor, which combines with a further five radar sensors, eight cameras, 16 ultrasonic sensors and Zensact's advanced software to provide a three-dimensional map of the road ahead.