Twin-motor model certified for 520 km on single charge

Priced 50 million won below European market; 1,000-unit target set for this year

The Volvo ES90. [Volvo Car Korea]
The Volvo ES90. [Volvo Car Korea]

Volvo Car Korea said Monday that its next-generation all-electric flagship, the Volvo ES90, has surpassed 3,000 pre-orders ahead of its official launch. The company priced the model at least 50 million won ($36,300) below its European market price, with deliveries set to begin in October.

The ES90 is Volvo's next-generation flagship, combining the elegance of a sedan, the practicality of a fastback and the versatility of an SUV — a design made possible by the flexibility of a dedicated electric vehicle platform.

The car also features "Huginn Core," a next-generation intelligence platform developed in collaboration with global technology leaders including Nvidia and Qualcomm, delivering what Volvo describes as its most advanced safety and user-experience capabilities. The company set the aggressive Korean price particularly to drive expansion in the premium electric vehicle market.

According to the Ministry of Climate, Environment and Energy's updated vehicle emissions and noise certification system, the ES90 twin-motor with a 106 kWh all-wheel-drive setup has been certified for a combined range of 520 kilometers on a single charge at normal temperatures — 548 km in urban driving and 486 km on highways.

That is the longest single-charge range among imported premium-segment vehicles currently on sale in Korea. In practical terms, it is enough to cover the roughly 400-kilometer Seoul-to-Busan route and still have 120 kilometers to spare. In cold weather, the ES90 retains a certified combined range of 469 km — 451 km in the city and 491 km on highways.

The ES90 is also the first Volvo to feature an 800-volt high-voltage system paired with new battery management software. Using a 350 kW fast charger, the car can add 300 km of range in just 10 minutes, and a 10-to-80-percent charge takes only 22 minutes.

Under the government's 2026 electric vehicle subsidy guidelines — which factor in energy efficiency, single-charge range, and battery safety — buyers in Seoul are expected to receive between 2.13 million won and 2.2 million won in subsidies. With eco-friendly tax benefits applied, the consumer price starts at 70.81 million won depending on trim level.

With domestic certification now complete, Volvo Car Korea will begin deliveries of the ES90 in October, starting with the twin-motor variant.

The company aims to sell 1,000 units this year and claim the top spot in the segment. Lee Yun-mo, president of Volvo Car Korea, said at last month's ES90 launch event that the company intends to sell more than 1,000 units this year on the strength of its strategic pricing and product quality. "Next year, we plan to sell more than 3,000 units and become the best-selling model in the segment," he said.


eyre@heraldcorp.com