Despite MPVs being a big thing in this part of the world, Volvo says it will not be offering its first ever MPV to Malaysian buyers, as the Volvo EM90 is not slated for introduction here. According to Chris Wailes, MD of Volvo Car Malaysia & Thailand, the all-electric model, which shares its underpinnings with the Zeekr 009, will remain a very specific market product.
“We don’t have any plan to bring in the EM90, because it’s always been designed for China. We said that from the start,” he said during a recent interview with selected members of the Malaysian motoring press. However, he said the brand is set to explore how it can offer consumers something with a similar scope, albeit utilising a different approach and body style.
“Have we looked at whether there would be an opportunity for something along those lines? Yes, of course, as there is demand, but there are other ways we can do it, with the existing car lines that we have. Without giving too much away, you’ll see what those other ways are, hopefully, next year,” he said.
The allusion of how this will be accomplished would be from combining the interior usability of a luxury people mover with the practicality of an SUV through a simple lounge seat configuration. With Wailes citing the good response to the six-seat version of the EX90 in Thailand, with buyers picking it over the seven-seat version, the indication points to it likely coming our way, possibly sometime in 2026.
“In Thailand, we thought about that as well, and so we introduced the six-seat version of the EX90 when we launched it in Thailand, and it’s now the number one EX90 seller there. Everybody wants a six-seat, and the people that are buying that car had MPVs before,” he explained.
“Basically, this gives the same structure as an MPV, with four captain chairs and the space to be able to get in the back. Child seats can be left in place, and everybody can fit in easily, whereas with the seven-seat, you can’t do that because you’ve got to pull the second-row forward for access to the back,” he said.
Wailes said going with a SUV approach had additional benefits, “What buyers would value is a slightly higher riding position, but they also get four-wheel drive as well. So if the weather, like it does here as well as over the border, puts a lot of water and stuff on the roads, it doesn’t matter, because they’ve got that higher position, which is better than being in a lower vehicle,” he said.
At present, the Volvo EX90, which was launched in April, is available only in a seven-seat Ultra Twin variant in Malaysia. The EV, which has a the total system output is 517 PS (510 hp or 380 kW) and 910 Nm and offers up to 623 km of WLTP-rated travel, is priced at RM442,888 on-the-road without insurance.
GALLERY: 2025 Volvo EX90 in Malaysia
Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.