The Volvo EX90 Coming to South Africa

Alrighty, let’s talk about the Volvo EX90, the fully electric flagship that’s zipping its way onto US and European roads as we speak. But hold your horses, South Africa, your EX90 isn’t arriving until early 2025.

Yes, it’s a little like waiting for that parcel you ordered, which got stuck somewhere in customs…you know those Shein and Temu things. But when it does arrive, it promises to be as electrifying as a Tesla meme war on Twitter. Let’s get into the facts before you start drafting those "Where's my Volvo?" emails to customer service.

The Facts (No fluff, we promise):

• Global Deliveries: The first batch of Volvo EX90s is en route to retailers in the US and Europe, with customers receiving their shiny new toys by the end of September 2024.

• South African Timeline: Local deliveries? Early 2025. First customer cars are expected by the end of Q2 2025. So yeah, you’ve got some time to save up… or practice patience.

• Volvo’s Fancy AI Tech: The EX90 comes with an in-car AI computer (because why wouldn’t you want AI in your car?) built on NVIDIA DRIVE® and powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon® Cockpit Platform. It’s the kind of tech that makes you feel like you're driving in 2035 rather than 2025.

• Safety Sensors Galore: The car is packed with radars, cameras, and even lidar (fancy tech stuff to make it safer than bubble wrap) provided by Luminar. It’s designed to watch the road, so you don’t have to. Just kidding—please still watch the road.

• Core Computing System: Yep, it’s the first Volvo with this tech, making it the smartest Volvo ever made. It learns from you, so you better behave—your car might be judging your playlist choices.

• Over-The-Air Updates: The car gets regular software updates via 5G (good luck with that in some parts of SA, though) to improve its features over time. Imagine your car leveling up like a Pokémon.

• Born Electric: Fully electric, with a range of up to 600 km (according to the WLTP cycle, which is like when you promise to go to the gym “regularly” but only manage a few times a month).

• Driving Experience: CEO Jim Rowan did a 950 km road trip across the US, giving the car a thumbs-up for its comfort, silence, and sound system that might rival some home cinemas. Oh, and the handling is apparently top-notch too.

• Firsts for the EX90:

  • First Volvo with lidar.

  • First with core computing (so it’s basically smarter than your phone).

  • First to offer bi-directional charging—contribute to the grid, because who wouldn’t want their car to play a role in renewable energy?

• Production Location: Made in Charleston, South Carolina, USA, where they’ve invested heavily in state-of-the-art facilities. They can churn out up to 150,000 cars a year, so you’ll eventually get yours!

• Bonus Feature: Abbey Road Studios mode, thanks to the optional Bowers & Wilkins audio system. Because clearly, driving in near silence isn’t enough—you need to feel like you're mixing The Beatles’ next album.