Volvo EX90 to arrive without key features

VOLVO has advised EX90 customers around the world that deliveries of its large electric SUV may go ahead without several key features.

The EX90 – which is already two years late because of software related issues – will be delivered to many customers without features including LiDAR based driver assistance technology, cross traffic and forward autonomous emergency braking, curve speed assist, Apple CarPlay, battery drainage and smart charging control, automated plug-and-charge capability, and vehicle-to-grid bi-directional charging capacity.

Volvo chief executive officer Jim Rowan said these features will become available at a later date via over-the-air updates but did not specify a timeframe.

“The whole point of a software-defined vehicle that has over-the-air update capabilities is to continually upgrades the software. We can do that,” he said.

“I think that customers who invest in advanced technology products like the EX90 understand this fully, and they will reap the benefits over time.

“We do not see any major loss of pre-bookings or pre-orders as a result of updating the car’s software as it gets further into its journey,” he added.

The new SUV has a claimed range of up to 600km on a single charge according to the WLTP test cycle, with the capability of charging the 111kWh battery pack from 10 to 80 per cent capacity in under 30 minutes despite a lack of 800-volt electrical architecture.

It will be initially available with twin permanent magnet electric motors providing all-wheel drive and delivering up to 380kW of peak power plus 910Nm of torque.

As expected from Volvo, the new vehicle raises the bar in safety terms with what is called an “invisible shield of safety” that the company says can help reduce crashes that cause serious injuries or death by a fifth.

The news follows a software-related recall of Volvo’s Chinese-made EX30 small electric SUV last month.

That issue, which affected some 72,000 units, related to an error that caused the speedometer to go into test mode upon start up. Like those affecting the EX90, the error was able to be rectified via an over-the-air software update.