X

Volvo EX90 EV Coming Nov. 9 With Standard Lidar Safety Tech

Volvo Recharge Concept

The new EX90 should look a lot like 2021's Recharge concept.

Volvo

What's happening

Volvo's new flagship electric SUV, the EX90, will debut on Nov. 9.

Why it matters

The EX90 is expected to have a level of safety "beyond any Volvo car before," including next-generation lidar sensors that work during the day and at night.

What's next

The EX90 will eventually replace the gas-powered XC90 SUV.

new EX90 SUV will debut on Nov. 9, the company confirmed Wednesday. Set to eventually replace the  SUV, the fully electric EX90 will be built at a new plant in South Carolina and should hit the road sometime in 2023.

We don't yet have any concrete details regarding the EX90's electric powertrain, but in a video published Thursday, Volvo Cars CEO Jim Rowan said the company's new SUV will have a level of safety equipment "beyond any Volvo car before." Design wise, the EX90 should look a lot like the Volvo Recharge concept that debuted last year.

The EX90 will be equipped with a full suite of ultrasonic sensors, cameras, radars and lidar, all of which will be powered by Volvo's next-generation onboard computing system. Volvo says its new lidar tech works during the day and at night, and at highway speeds, too.

"Our research indicates that our software and sensors can help reduce accidents that result in serious injury or death by up to 20%," Volvo said in a statement. "Likewise, we estimate we can even improve overall crash avoidance by up to 9%."

Several years ago, the Swedish automaker committed to making it so nobody would be seriously injured or killed in a new Volvo. This was called Volvo Vision 2020, and while this obviously hasn't come to fruition, Rowan believes the EX90 is the true next step on this path toward ultimate safety. "We'll continue to innovate until cars don't crash anymore," he said.

Volvo Concept Recharge has some big changes in store

See all photos
Steven Ewing Former managing editor
Steven Ewing spent his childhood reading car magazines, making his career as an automotive journalist an absolute dream job. After getting his foot in the door at Automobile while he was still a teenager, Ewing found homes on the mastheads at Winding Road magazine, Autoblog and Motor1.com before joining the CNET team in 2018. He has also served on the World Car Awards jury. Ewing grew up ingrained in the car culture of Detroit -- the Motor City -- before eventually moving to Los Angeles. In his free time, Ewing loves to cook, binge trash TV and play the drums.
Steven Ewing
Steven Ewing spent his childhood reading car magazines, making his career as an automotive journalist an absolute dream job. After getting his foot in the door at Automobile while he was still a teenager, Ewing found homes on the mastheads at Winding Road magazine, Autoblog and Motor1.com before joining the CNET team in 2018. He has also served on the World Car Awards jury. Ewing grew up ingrained in the car culture of Detroit -- the Motor City -- before eventually moving to Los Angeles. In his free time, Ewing loves to cook, binge trash TV and play the drums.

Article updated on September 21, 2022 at 8:19 AM PDT

Our Experts

Written by 
Steven Ewing
CNET staff -- not advertisers, partners or business interests -- determine how we review the products and services we cover. If you buy through our links, we may get paid. Reviews ethics statement
Steven Ewing Former managing editor
Steven Ewing spent his childhood reading car magazines, making his career as an automotive journalist an absolute dream job. After getting his foot in the door at Automobile while he was still a teenager, Ewing found homes on the mastheads at Winding Road magazine, Autoblog and Motor1.com before joining the CNET team in 2018. He has also served on the World Car Awards jury. Ewing grew up ingrained in the car culture of Detroit -- the Motor City -- before eventually moving to Los Angeles. In his free time, Ewing loves to cook, binge trash TV and play the drums.
Why You Can Trust CNET
174175176177178179180+
Experts Interviewed
030405060708091011121314+
Companies Reviewed
108109110111112113+
Products Reviewed

We thoroughly evaluate each company and product we review and ensure our stories meet our high editorial standards.