Volvo is having trouble getting new EVs off the production line and onto dealers’ lots. The automaker recently delayed the launch of the small, affordable EX30 due to “changes in the global automotive landscape,” but it now appears that the flagship EX90 will experience similar issues.
The good news is that the problems likely won’t result in the delay of the EX90, but it does mean that the SUV will arrive, missing some of its marquee features. Volvo recently told customers that the SUV might be delivered without some of its most desirable features, with the automaker saying the tech “may be delayed when taking delivery of your EX90.”
Missing features may include Apple CarPlay, bi-directional charging, and Volvo’s impressive LiDAR safety technology. The automaker identified battery drain issues, including the fact that the EV may lose up to three percent of its state of charge every day when parked.
Volvo CEO Jim Rowan explained the automaker’s issues, saying, “The whole point of a software-defined vehicle that has over-the-air update capabilities is to continually upgrade that software.” Rowan said that customers are on board with the challenges, noting that they understand that more benefits are coming over time.
The EX30 has been delayed more than once to accommodate lagging software updates and other problems, so Volvo’s move to acknowledge those problems and get ahead of EX90 issues could be viewed as a step in the right direction. At the same time, the storied Swedish automaker’s EV catalog hasn’t reached the heights it planned, so it will be interesting to see how EX90 deliveries pan out over time.
[Images: Volvo]
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