Volvo’s China-only luxury MPV could conceivably fill a niche here, but focus remains on a seven-seat sports utility already signed off.

CHINA-only status for the latest Volvo - its first sliding door people mover - makes it easy for the brand’s New Zealand distributor to focus on its own multi-seat solution, still a year away.

Unveiling this week of the EM90 (above), a luxury MPV, is big news, but only in China, as that’s the sole designated market for this six-seater model for the foreseeable future.

That means Volvo NZ boss Ben Montgomery can maintain focus on the EX90 (below), a seven-seater delivering in a sports utility packaging, as an all-electric replacement for the XC90. 

Due in late 2024 or perhaps early 2025, it’s the second all-new NZ-incoming Volvo he’s awaiting, after the small EX30, pricing already announced and stock arriving around April.

Electric multi-seaters are sought after, but not prolific. 

Montgomery agrees there could conceivably be a place in this country for EM90, which is cast from the same mould as the $79,990-$114,900 LDV Mifa9, also out of China, but is plusher.

And pricier. With a price tag that works out to around $200,000, it would likely be more of pitch against the Kia EV9, which spans from $105,990 to $134,990, if not also a car that EX90 will likely also be measured asgainst, the Mercedes Benz EQS SUV, which sells here for $196,500 before options.

But that’s simply a semantic that won’t be explored. 

“With EM90 there will be no conversations. It is very clear from everything I know that it will only be a China-offered product.

“There would be potential (for EM90) but it’s not even a conversation we are going to have. They are not looking to opening it up to any other market.

“EM90 is very important for China but (internationally) Volvo is very focused on EX90.”

Though it is still at least a year from touching down, the EX90 is already being promoted on Volvo NZ’s website and has generated a lot of interest.

Set to come to us from a factory in South Carolina, the United States, it stands as the largest international model in a series of new electric cars Volvo is promising to launch every year between now and 2030, after which it will only sell electric cars. 

Presenting in dual motor - tagged Twin Motor in Volvo-speak - format, for all-wheel-drive, EX90 comes in Standard and Performance editions, the first making 300kW and 770Nm the other 380kW and 910Nm of torque, both feeding from a 111kWh (107kWh usable) battery. Range between charges is quoted as 600 kilometres for the entry, with the Performance just 6km under that.

The drivetrain format, the model’s size, the SUV look and its high level of equipment and brand status all make it a short-list alternate to the EQS SUV, which in NZ form has 265kW/800Nm drawing from a 107.8kWh usable battery, and 483km range.

Zero to 100kmh in 5.9 seconds is cited for the entry model – not bad for a car weighing 2818kg – and the Performance takes that down by a second. Like all new Volvos, the car in any format will have a top speed of 180kmh as a safety and good citizenship sop. 

In addition to having seating for seven and a decent boot, is is stacked with sophisticated gear, much operated via an upright 15-inch central touchscreen with immense computing power.

The EX90 is kitted out with Volvo’s latest array of radars and camera systems to make it the firm’s safest car yet. 

It has enough sensors to theoretically support what Volvo calls ‘unsupervised driving’ in the future, once legislation allows it to be enabled. Realistically, this translates to ability to enable Level three semi-automated driving capabilities, one step beyond the current norm. Level Three means a car can perform most driving tasks, but human over-ride is still required.

Similar abilities and features come with the EM90, though with that one the technology is not as home-grown. While it is presented  as a "Scandinavian living room on the move", the EM90 is not a pure Volvo, but rather a rebadged and restyled version of Zeekr 09 electric people mover sold in China.

Volvo and Zeekr are owned by Geely, as are Lotus and Volvo's electric-car spin-off, Polestar.

The website drive.com.au says the Volvo EM90 and Zeekr 009 appear to share their body shell, underpinnings, key specifications, and much of their interior – and are likely to be manufactured in the same Chinese factory – but differ in their front and rear styling, and parts of the cabin, such as the steering wheel.

Powering the EM90 is a single electric motor on the rear axle developing 200kW, and a 116kWh battery pack. Range of 718km is cited, though is is from CLTC Chinese testing that is more lenient than the NZ-recognised WLTP scale.

Six seats are standard – in a 2-2-2 layout – with the two middle-row passengers treated to ‘lounge seats’ with individual heating, ventilation and massaging functions, power adjustment and sliding, and access to built-in tables and cupholders.