Volvo XC90 to live on after all-electric replacement lands
Volvo to extend XC90 large SUV’s lifecycle with one final facelift to ease transition to EVsVolvo has revealed that it won't axe its family-friendly Volvo XC90 large SUV this year, despite introducing an all-new pure-electric replacement.
The EV is likely to be called the 2022 Volvo Embla, following a recent trademark application.
It was initially believed the current seven-year-old Volvo XC90 would be pensioned off, but Volvo chief Hakan Samuelsson now says the Swedish brand will extend its lifecycle with a facelift.
Speaking to Automotive News, Samuelsson said the decision to keep the current Volvo XC90 on sale longer was made possible because production of the all-new SUV will take place in the US, not the current factory in Torslanda, Sweden, where the XC90 is built.
This will allow both cars to be produced simultaneously.
"That’s an advantage of building the new one in Charleston," Samuelsson told Automotive News Europe.
“Why should we close down the old one in Torslanda when you still have a market for hybrids, especially in America and China."
First revealed back in 2014, the current Volvo XC90 was only recently updated in 2021.
Despite this, the BMW X5 rival is set to once again go under the knife to keep it competitive against more modern rivals.
"We will even look into upgrading it so it looks a bit better,” Samuelsson said. “But, technology-wise, we’ll invest in the new generation of all-electric cars."
As part of the facelift, the XC90's exterior will be restyled to align it with Volvo's incoming EVs, including the Embla.
That means it will be inspired by last year's Volvo Recharge concept that is tipped to not only heavily inspire the Embla but shape all future Volvos.
Last year, Volvo celebrated a 17 per cent uplift in global sales of the XC90, despite its age. The car-maker managed to shift 108,231 units in a year disrupted by the pandemic and ongoing global semi-conductor shortage.
With its stay of execution granted, the Volvo XC90's reprieve isn't expected to last long as Volvo has already announced it has earmarked an incredible $US1 billion ($A1.4b) to retool the Torslanda plant for pure-electric cars.
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