Volvo announced plans to release an all-electric minivan in China, where it will be a top-of-the-line vehicle alongside the EX90 SUV. The launch date and potential for sales outside China have not been disclosed.
The electric minivan is likely to be based on the recently unveiled Zeekr 009, which shares the same Geely SEA platform and features a dual-motor all-wheel drive system with 536 horsepower and a 140 kWh battery pack with a range of 511 miles.
Qin Peiji, President of Volvo Cars Greater China Sales Company, announced during a media briefing that Volvo plans to reveal a concept version of their electric minivan in Q3 2023 and launch the production version before the end of the year.
Although Volvo and Zeekr models will share the same platform and wheelbase, they will have distinct exterior and interior designs. Both vehicles will be available for sale in China, and Geely, the parent company, aims to avoid sales cannibalization between the two models.
The Volvo electric minivan is expected to be positioned as a higher-end option than the Zeekr 009, which currently starts at around $75,000 in China. A more affordable rear-wheel drive version of the Zeekr 009 is planned for later release, and it remains to be seen if Volvo will offer its electric minivan in other markets, including the US where a Ford Flex-like EV could find a market with a large battery pack.
