Volvo EM90 Patent Images
Recently, Volvo filed a patent application in the US, which sparked a wave of rumors about the possible launch of the EM90 minivan on the American market. In the patent images, the car has one key difference from the model sold in China: an additional flap on the right side, which may indicate a hybrid version.
Details of the Patent Images
Experts from Car and Driver discovered that the EM90 in the patent images looks almost identical to the Chinese version, but with one important change: besides the charging port on the left side, a flap appeared on the right side. This may indicate that the model could be a plug-in hybrid, where the right flap is intended for refueling, and the left one is for charging.
Possible Explanations for the Changes
Although some suggest this is a sign of a hybrid version, there are electric vehicles, such as Audi models, with charging ports on both sides for convenience. Therefore, Volvo could have added a second flap to improve functionality, not necessarily linking it to a hybrid powertrain.
Volvo’s Plans for the US Market
Despite the patent, Volvo denies plans to sell the EM90 in the US. In an official statement, the automaker emphasized that it has no intention of supplying this model to the American market and that details about the future hybrid, planned for production at the Charleston plant, will be announced later.
Volvo does not plan to supply the EM90 to the USA. We will share more detailed information about the future hybrid for the Charleston plant in the future.
Why a US Patent?
It remains unclear why Volvo patented the model in the US if it does not plan to sell it there. Perhaps this was done in case the company changes its plans in the future, allowing for a quick market launch if necessary.
Patent filings often generate hype, but they do not always reflect immediate marketing strategies. In the case of the EM90, Volvo is demonstrating caution, avoiding hasty decisions regarding market expansion, which may be related to global trends in demand for electric and hybrid vehicles. This could also indicate that the company is focused on other priorities, such as developing new technologies or adapting to local emission standards.