Volvo Rejects EM90 Minivan for the U.S. Following Emergence of PHEV Patent | Carscoops
Selling a high-end minivan like the EM90 could turn out to be a wise decision for Volvo.
Recent filings with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office have intensified rumors about the potential launch of the Volvo EM90 minivan in the United States. The vehicle shown in the patent images seems to be a plug-in hybrid, in contrast to the all-electric version available in China.
Car and Driver noticed that the design of the Volvo EM90 closely mirrors its Chinese variant, with one notable exception: the U.S. patent images feature an additional flap on the right rear side, while the electric model has its charging port located on the left rear quarter.
What Does the Extra Flap Indicate?
This extra hatch has led to speculation that it might be concealing a fuel filler, suggesting a plug-in hybrid configuration that retains the original charging port location. Conversely, some manufacturers, including Audi, have included dual charging ports in their electric vehicles to facilitate public charging, so it's possible that Volvo could be implementing a similar approach with the EM90.
Volvo’s Plans for Hybrids
The filing of this patent has sparked discussions about the possibility of a plug-in hybrid EM90 being part of the new hybrid lineup Volvo has committed to producing at its Charleston, South Carolina facility. However, in response to these speculations, Volvo has stated that it has no plans to sell the EM90 in the U.S. and downplayed the likelihood of it being the hybrid set to be manufactured in the country.
“Volvo does not have any plans to introduce the EM90 to the U.S. We will provide additional information about the forthcoming hybrid for our Charleston plant at a later date,” the automaker stated.
This raises the question of why Volvo would go through the process of patenting the vehicle in the U.S. if it has no plans to market it there. It could be that they have left the door open in case they decide to enter the U.S. market with the EM90 in the future.
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Volvo Rejects EM90 Minivan for the U.S. Following Emergence of PHEV Patent | Carscoops
Marketing a high-end minivan such as the EM90 could be a shrewd decision for Volvo.