Swedish automaker Volvo has kicked off the initial prototype production of its next-gen electric sedan in its Shanghai factory in China. According to the Swedish news platform TeknikensVärld, the model will be the brand’s first-ever electric sedan with a 111 kWh battery pack.
Prototype production
The upcoming Volvo electric sedan will launch as the ES90 model, internally referred to as “V551.”
The report indicated the leaked photo from Volvo’s own internal board, revealing the V551 team’s “first VP Car Celebration. Notably, VP stands for “Verification Car,” indicating that the first prototype of the model rolled off the pre-series manufacturing line in Zhejiang, Shanghai.
The photo also features a “CONFIDENTIAL TOP SECRET” sign in the middle of the team members.
The prototype production is crucial for the V551 team to first test and evaluate key variables on the model and the production line to ensure smooth operation before the actual production.
What’s currently known about the model?
motor.es reported that the upcoming Volvo ES90 will ride on the SPA2 platform. It will apparently feature two electric motors, with a 111 kWh gross battery (107 kWh net). Impressively, it can enable a driving range of more than 600 kilometers ((372 miles).
It will be bigger than its traditional internal combustion engine-powered (ICE) counterpart, with the following dimensions:
- Length: 4,999 mm
- Width: 1,945 mm
- Height: 1,547 mm
- Wheelbase: 3,102 mm
Moreover, the new Volvo e-sedan will have two drive configurations, including dual-motor all-wheel drive (AWD) and single-motor rear-wheel drive (RWD). Volvo has yet to reveal more details about the model.
More plans
Electrive previously reported Volvo’s plans to launch electric versions of the S60 and S90 saloon model to expand its range of new EVs to six models by 2026. As of now, the Volvo S60, XC60, S90, and XC90 use the same SPA platform as the V60 and V90 station wagon models.
Interestingly, Volvo aims to build the new EX90 and the Polestar 3 on the SPA2 platform, which is specially developed for battery-powered models.
Volvo has yet to officially confirm if the model will launch as the ES90. The automaker apparently plans to begin the ES90 production in May 2024, probably for the pre-production models. However, retail availability will not occur until mid-2025. It will eventually hit the Chinese and European markets, but the focus is apparently on other markets like the US.
