The all-new Volvo EX90, the most exciting and technologically advanced seven-seat electric vehicle the world has ever seen, was launched globally in California’s Newport Beach recently, with the planet’s leading motoring media present to put the car through its paces.

The EX90, which the handling capability of a sports coupe and the power and performance of a combustion engine vehicle of the same size, sets new standards for the Swedish automaker when it comes to safety, sustainability and human-centric technology.

It’s that technology that continues to take the world by storm, with EX90 proudly taking the title of the first Volvo car powered by a core system.

The in-car AI computer is built on the Nvidia Drive platform and this core system – plus the Snapdragon Cockpit Platform from Qualcomm Technologies and in-house developed software by Volvo Cars engineers – work seamlessly together to run the key functions inside the car, from safety and infotainment to battery management.

The result is a more responsive and convenient car experience that puts the term ‘future driving’ at the forefront of what this vehicle is capable of.

“Born smart and connected with Google built-in, the EX90 is equipped with a range of sensors, including radars, cameras and a lidar supplied by Luminar for enhanced safety,” says Volvo Cars Chief Executive Officer, Jim Rowan.

“The data collection from sensors, coupled with an always-on 5G connection and regular over-the-air software updates, allows us to continuously improve the car’s features and grow its functionality over time.”

In other words, Rowan says, the EX90 is designed to grow and develop together with you.

“The Volvo EX90 embodies our future as a fully electric car maker, with cars that continuously get better over time thanks to core computing and software updates,” he says.

“It’s a testament to our global engineering capabilities and reaffirms our position as a leader in the ongoing technology shift in the car industry.”

The EX90 is based on Volvo’s next-generation technology base, fully electric by design, with a very impressive driving range of up to 600 kilometres, ideal for long drives in nations like Australia, Canada, France and the United States.

“It’s designed to be the safest car we’ve ever made, full of next-generation passive and active safety technology and software informed by a set of advanced sensors,” Rowan says.

The EX90 is a car of many firsts for Gothenburg-based Volvo.

It’s the first Volvo car to be equipped with a lidar, and the first with a core computing system.

It is also the first Volvo car designed to deliver bi-directional charging, allowing customers to contribute to a more balanced grid and more renewable energy use in society.

Impressively, the EX90 is the world’s first car to offer the Abbey Road Studios mode, which comes with the optional Bowers and Wilkins top-level audio system.

Where Volvo truly stands out globally is the company’s leadership when it comes to automotive safety and one of the most impressive features of the new EX90 is the all-new driver understanding system.

Don’t just take our word for it because Time magazine has named the driver understanding system in the new Volvo EX90 SUV as one of its 2024 Best Inventions.

The driver understanding system inside the EX90 is a pioneering new safety feature that uses real-time sensing technology to understand if a driver is impaired, tired, or distracted, so the car can step in to support if needed.

In some cases, the EX90 will alert the driver with a soft nudge, followed by more consistent notifications if that initial nudge does not have the desired effect.

In case the unexpected happens, for example a driver falling asleep, the EX90 can safely stop the car and send a warning to other road users with its hazard lights.

“The EX90 is designed to be the safest Volvo car we have ever made,” Rowan says. “While all our cars are developed to meet our pioneering safety standard, we continue to push the envelope in safety with every new Volvo car.

“On behalf of everyone at Volvo Cars, I am very pleased to see Time magazine recognise us as a leader in automotive safety.”

The driver understanding system in the EX90 is one of Volvo’s latest safety inventions, thanks to the knowledge gained from over 50 years of real-world research.

“Stemming from our insight into how drivers interact with their cars in real life, it helps address one of the main gaps towards zero collisions by supporting people based on understanding their behaviours and needs,” Rowan says.

“Safety has always been our top priority. One of our most important contributions is the modern three-point safety belt.

“Since we introduced it in 1959, and later granted free use of its design, the safety belt is estimated to have saved a million lives.

“As we accelerate towards our ambition of zero collisions, the EX90 represents a new era of safety for Volvo Cars.

“Our all-electric flagship SUV is designed to help protect people and make their everyday journeys easier and more enjoyable.

“It will also get better over time as it learns from real-time data points and receives over-the-air updates,” Rowan says.

Production of the EX90 started earlier this year at Volvo’s manufacturing plant just outside of Charleston, South Carolina, which has the capacity to build up to 150,000 cars per year.

The United States is expected to be the top market for the EX90 and will have cars produced locally, while in Asia, the brilliant new SUVs will be manufactured in China, where Volvo has plants in Chengdu, Daqing and Taizhou.

The first batch of the EX90 has been shipped to Volvo’s retailers in the United States and Europe and the company is currently ramping-up deliveries, including to more markets between the fourth quarter of 2024 and the first quarter of 2025.