2023-10-16 17:43:39
China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has leaked the first images of the Volvo EM90 ahead of its official presentation, initially scheduled for mid-November.
It is not the first time that the MIIT has spoiled the party for a manufacturer, since this government body requires images of a car before it goes on sale in China.
The images clearly show a Zeekr 009 with Volvo DNA smeared all over it. It makes sense, since Zeekr is owned by the Geely group, which also owns Lotus, Polestar and Volvo.
So far, Geely has done a great job keeping these brands separate, but building a Volvo MPV on an existing platform was obviously more profitable.
Fortunately, Geely allowed Volvo to handle the design. It seems like the Zeekr’s mission is to shock and awe through divisive design, which is unlike Volvo. The Zeekr looks a bit like a Pokemon monster, while the face of the EM90 is a collection of Volvo’s current greatest hits.
The rear end is a bit generic, but it reminds us of Volvo station wagons from the late ’90s and early ’90s. You can still see some of these designs on modern models like the Volvo V60 Cross Country.
What’s confusing is that Volvo needs a minivan. Zeekr is already marketed as one of Geely’s premium brands. The brand is powerful enough to compete with the Tesla Model S Plaid, for example.
It’s worth remembering that these luxury vans are aimed at Chinese customers, who appreciate rear legroom and luxury more than anything else. They would pass on a BMW 7 Series and its movie screen and go buy a Lexus LM because it has two real business class seats in the back.
Still, the Volvo is much higher on the desirability scale than a Zeekr. This makes it a much better rival for the LM, which is basically a Toyota Sienna.
The Sienna is powered by a hybrid powertrain, which gives the EM90 an advantage. The adoption of electric vehicles has been much more successful in the East, and the Zeekr 009 is equipped with either a single rear electric motor or a dual-motor setup producing 536 horsepower.
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