Volvo Car Korea will aggressively expand its electric vehicle lineup this year. The company plans to launch the flagship electric models EX90 and ES90 in the domestic market within the year to increase its share in the imported car market.
Volvo Car Korea said on the 15th that it plans to launch the next-generation pure electric flagship models EX90 and ES90 in Korea in the first half and second half, respectively. Volvo Car Korea explained that the two models symbolize Volvo Cars' transition to software-defined vehicles (SDV). Based on an integrated software system and designed to continually update performance and safety, the EX90 and ES90 are structured to learn new data and enable over-the-air updates through collaboration with global big tech companies Nvidia, Qualcomm and Google.
A Volvo Car Korea official said, "Along with the hybrid (HEV) lineup including the existing XC90 and S90, we will build a portfolio that encompasses EVs and HEVs through the EX90 and ES90 based on a new platform," adding, "We plan to strengthen our market strategy centered on family car demand."
Volvo Car Korea's move to bring in its brand-defining vehicles is a step to expand market share. Volvo Car Korea sold a total of 14,903 units last year, ranking fourth in the imported car market. By model, the XC60 sold 5,952 units, maintaining the legacy of the brand's global best-seller. The XC40 (2,849 units), S90 (1,859 units), XC90 (1,820 units) and EX30 (1,228 units) followed.
The XC40 and the electric EX30, Volvo Car Korea's core models, delivered balanced results. The XC40 grew 14% from a year earlier, backed by an enhanced new user experience (UX) and personalization features. The EX30 also drove Volvo Car Korea's EV sales, and the company plans to use this as a springboard to gradually increase the EV share.
Volvo Car Korea will continue investing not only in vehicle hardware but also in the existing customer experience. First, it will expand free support for Naver's in-car browser Whale. It also said it would advance its global Wi-Fi-based service infrastructure to build a future-ready service environment capable of diagnostics and software updates.
Lee Yun-mo, head of Volvo Korea, said, "We will continue constant innovation throughout the entire ownership journey, not just at the point of purchase, and establish ourselves as a brand that grows with customers."