Volvo CEO Hakan Samuelsson told Autocar in January 2022 that Volvo cars will be less boxy in the future and have less wind resistance. He revealed that the brand’s current S and V models (Volvo S60, V60, S90, V90) will be replaced by models with more attractive designs.
Although the popularity of scooters and sedans is declining compared to SUVs, the CEO confirmed the arrival of successors to the S and V series. The new models will benefit from an aerodynamic design in high school.
Aerodynamically optimized designs reduce wind resistance and can improve range. As a result, their drag coefficient (cd) is lower and the batteries can last longer. The brand’s head of design, Robin Page, told EV Central in June 2021 that the wagon will mark a significant evolution in terms of design language and body proportions.
Despite the growing demand for SUVs, Page says there are still customers who like the practicality of a wagon with a large trunk and spacious interior. He added that there is no longer a need for a large hood and an open grid with an electric powertrain and an EV-specific platform. He reiterated the brand’s focus on furniture. He mentioned the possibility of a “legroom” where the battery is separated to allow for better rear legroom. He also said the increased use of natural materials.
Volvo’s EV Energy
In a press release dated March 2, 2021, Samuelsson mentioned that internal combustion engine technology would no longer be relevant in the future and that the brand wanted to invest in electric powertrains. The brand will only sell electric cars from 2030, and by 2025, 50% of its portfolio will be generated from BEVs.
In December 2021, the brand announced a partnership with NorthVolt, Sweden’s leading battery manufacturer. Volvo will also invest SEK 30 billion ($3.1 billion) in a joint research and development center in Gothenburg, Sweden.
The R&D center, scheduled to open later this year, will make breakthroughs in the development of battery technology for the brand’s next-generation vehicles. The center will use 100% clean energy to produce batteries. By the end of that decade, the company will aim to build a battery that can travel 621 miles (1000 km). The energy density of this battery will be 1000 Wh/l, twice the capacity of current batteries. The R&D center will also bring innovations in charging technology and help significantly reduce charging times so that customers don’t have to wait hours for their electric vehicle to be ready to go after the battery runs out.
Volvo Embla
Announced in mid-2021, Volvo Concept Recharge is the brand’s vision for its future cars and what it will offer in terms of technology and powertrain. The production version may be called Embla, but there is no official announcement yet. It’s based on a dedicated EV platform and its interior is packed with durable materials.
Constant focus on interior space and digitalization. Volvo is a pioneer in safety – its patent for the 3-point seat belt was made available for free public application in the 1960s – and all of its modern cars are among the safest vehicles in the world. This approach will be applied to the next generation of Volvo cars with systems like LiDAR and Level 3 autonomous driving capabilities.
