Volvo Launches First-ever, $114,000 All-electric Minivan

Volvo launched its first-ever minivan earlier this week. Dubbed the EM90, that is an electrical (“E”) minivan (or “MPV,” for the “M”) designed to take a seat on the prime of the Swedish model’s mannequin lineup in China with a sophisticated, Google-based infotainment system, luxurious inside appointments, and a staggering $114,000 price ticket.

“The EM90 demonstrates our robust skills to innovate and meet particular market calls for,” reads the official copy from Volvo’s press staff. “The multi-purpose automobile (MPV) phase has gained appreciable reputation in recent times, particularly in lots of components of Asia. This is without doubt one of the primary the reason why the EM90 is coming first to China, the world’s largest automotive market.”

Minivans in China aren’t like minivans within the US. As an alternative of enormous household trucksters affected by juice packing containers and desiccated French fries, minivans (or “MPVs,” to make use of the international time period) are used as high-end government transport, with heated/cooled massaging and energy reclining seats frequent choices for well-heeled Chinese language patrons who’re driving in, relatively than driving their vans. That’s why the EM90’s inside appointments appear to have extra in frequent with a personal jet than the minivans that used to shuttle you and me to soccer observe once we have been youngsters.

Volvo, for its half, appears desperate to keep away from seeming prefer it’s constructed this premium-priced luxurious hauler primarily for the Chinese language market, slipping in references to the EM90 as a people-mover into their PR. Even there, nonetheless, they’re fast to reiterate the manager cruise missile angle. “When the automotive just isn’t used for household journeys,” reads the discharge, “it doubles as government enterprise transport that gives the final word snug inside surroundings for conferences and enterprise calls. In brief, for patrons on the lookout for security and a spacious, versatile, and cozy premium expertise on the transfer, the EM90 is an thrilling new choice for them.”

Since Volvo themselves don’t appear in a position to promote this as something lower than an expensive workplace extension, let’s check out that inside and see for ourselves what life is like within the EM90.

“With the EM90, we’re taking Volvo Vehicles’ heritage and management in security into the thrilling new electrical MPV phase,” says Jim Rowan, chief government at Volvo Vehicles. “It permits us to faucet new market demand we’ve not explored earlier than and broadens the enchantment of the Volvo model to extra folks.”

Whereas, admittedly, a Volvo-branded minivan that promised conventional ranges of Volvo security would have been a welcome addition to our private fleet of automobiles a number of years again, I’d want the value to creep again down beneath $60K earlier than I might even actually contemplate it — however that’s simply me, and possibly we’ll get a stripped-down model within the US considerably ahead of later.

The primary-ever Volvo MPV guarantees 450 miles (738 km) of electrical vary on the CTLC cycle, utilizing the identical battery because the upcoming EX90 SUV.

 
Supply | Photos: Volvo Vehicles.