Volvo Car Malaysia Launches the Locally Assembled ES90: A New Flagship for the Electric Sedan Era

Volvo Car Malaysia today celebrated a historic milestone with the official launch of the Volvo ES90, the brand’s first fully electric sedan. Assembled locally in Shah Alam, the ES90 is not just a new model; it is a statement of intent—redefining premium mobility with Scandinavian design, next-generation safety, and seamless connectivity.

The new Volvo ES90 is available for viewing at all authorised dealers nationwide starting today, priced from RM339,888². To reward early adopters joining this new journey, the launch includes a 2% early-bird incentive, strictly limited to the first 100 units booked by 31 March 2026.

Chris Wailes, Managing Director of Volvo Car Malaysia and Thailand shares: “For 60 years, Volvo has been part of the Malaysian journey. Today, we turn a new page with the launch of the ES90. This is the car for the driver who seeks balance – blending the executive presence of a premium sedan with the sustainability and performance of our latest electric technology. It is locally assembled, globally class-leading, and designed to look after you like only a Volvo can”.

Designed for Life in Balance

The Volvo ES90 is crafted to be a sanctuary on the road. Combining the versatility of a fastback with the spaciousness of an SUV, it offers generous legroom and a refined “living room” feel through its Scandinavian interior design.

Beneath its elegant exterior lies Volvo’s most advanced 800-volt architecture. For Malaysian drivers, this translates into less waiting and more moving, with the ES90 capable of charging from 10 to 80 per cent in approximately 22 minutes using a 350 kW DC fast charger³.

On a full charge, the ES90 delivers a WLTP range of up to 651 km¹, enabling confident interstate travel from Kuala Lumpur to Penang or Johor Bahru without range anxiety.

Confident, Distinctive and Practical

Viewed in profile, the Volvo ES90 immediately stands out with its confident and distinctive stance. A slightly raised ride height gives the driver a more commanding view of the road, while the flowing roofline balances elegant proportions with interior space and contributes to excellent aerodynamics—boosting overall efficiency and electric range.

At the front, the signature Thor’s Hammer headlight design expresses a familiar yet modern Volvo identity. The rear is equally distinctive, featuring new C-shaped LED rear lamps complemented by LED lighting in the rear window, creating a unique welcome and farewell light sequence.

Customers can choose from four exterior colours, including Vapour Grey, Crystal White, Denim Blue and Onyx Black.

Practicality is enhanced by a large, wide tailgate hatch that makes loading family luggage or activity gear effortless. The boot offers up to 424 litres of space, expandable to 904 litres with the individually foldable 40/20/40 rear seats lowered. A 27-litre front luggage compartment provides a convenient space for charging cables.

Comfort and Functionality Throughout the Cabin

Inside, the focus is on premium comfort, authentic materials, and purpose-driven design—true to Volvo’s Scandinavian identity. The long 3.1-metre wheelbase provides generous second-row legroom, creating an exceptionally comfortable space for adults and children alike.

Six curated interior ambient lighting themes elevate sensory well-being, complemented by ventilated Nordico upholstery in Charcoal that delivers refined comfort with a modern, sustainable edge.

A panoramic roof with electrochromic glass provides up to 99.9 per cent UV protection. At the touch of a button, passengers can adjust the glass transparency to reduce glare and increase privacy.

Added comfort comes from a four-zone climate control system with an advanced air purifier, capable of blocking up to 95 per cent of PM2.5 particulates and removing 99.9 per cent of grass, tree, and pollen allergens from the cabin.

The Volvo ES90 is also engineered for exceptional sound comfort, with ultra-low noise levels that make it one of Volvo’s quietest cabins ever. This allows occupants to fully appreciate the Bowers & Wilkins sound system, featuring 25 high-fidelity speakers delivering 1,610 watts of immersive audio throughout the cabin. Dolby Atmos® creates a lifelike spatial sound experience, while an exclusive Abbey Road Studios mode recreates the acoustics of the legendary London recording space.

Intelligent Technology That Evolves Over Time

The Volvo ES90 is the first Volvo powered by the NVIDIA DRIVE AGX Orin computing platform, capable of performing trillions of operations per second. Acting as the vehicle’s core computer, it processes data from cameras, and radars to create a 360-degree safety shield around the car.

Built on Volvo’s Superset technology stack, the ES90 is designed to improve over time through regular over-the-air updates, enhancing everything from energy efficiency to infotainment features—ensuring the car continues to feel new for years to come.

The new-generation infotainment system with Google built-in includes Google Maps, Google Assistant, and access to a wide range of apps via Google Play. Powered by the Snapdragon® Cockpit Platform from Qualcomm Technologies, the 5G-capable system delivers a seamless and responsive experience across the 9-inch driver display, head-up display, and the 14.5-inch centre touchscreen.

To support confident manoeuvring in tight spaces, the ES90 is equipped with a 3D surround view supported by a 360-degree camera system.

The lightweight 800-volt system also improves overall efficiency and performance, contributing to a drag coefficient of just 0.25. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h takes 6.6 seconds, balancing refinement with responsive performance.

Sustainability in Focus

Battery technology is just one aspect of the Volvo ES90’s sustainability credentials. The model also supports Volvo Cars’ broader environmental ambitions through the extensive use of recycled and natural materials.

Twenty-nine per cent of all aluminium and 18 per cent of all steel used in the ES90 is recycled. The car also contains 16 per cent recycled polymers and bio-based materials, while interior wood panels are crafted from FSC-certified sources—contributing to lower CO₂ emissions during production.

Safe Space Technology, Inside and Out

True to Volvo’s heritage, the ES90 is designed to help protect everyone in and around the car. Developed to meet the rigorous Volvo Cars Safety Standard—built on more than 55 years of real-world safety research and exceeding official testing requirements—the ES90 represents the next chapter in Volvo’s safety leadership.

It features a strong safety cage, advanced restraint systems, and optimised deformation zones. Active safety is powered by a comprehensive sensor suite comprising five radars, seven cameras, twelve ultrasonic sensors — enabling vision beyond human capability to help avoid collisions and hazards.

The ES90 also comes standard with Volvo’s driver understanding system, which can detect when the driver’s attention is no longer focused on the road and intervene with supportive measures when needed.

Safe Space Technology extends protection beyond driving. When parked, a door-opening alert helps safeguard passing cyclists and pedestrians by warning occupants before doors are opened.

Key Specifications at a Glance:

• Platform: SPA2 with 800V Architecture
• Range: Up to 651 km (WLTP)
• Charging: 10 – 80% in 22 mins (DC Fast Charging)
• Audio: Bowers & Wilkins High-Fidelity Audio with Dolby Atmos
• Infotainment: 14.5-inch centre screen with Google built-in

The Volvo ES90 is now open for booking. Customers can configure their vehicle and place an order online or visit their nearest Volvo retailer.

To draw attention to Volvo’s latest new model launch, the ES90, Volvo Malaysia instead launched an entirely new car brand called ‘SELAMAT’. A fully integrated campaign, with a specially designed camo car, digital outdoor, and digital assets specifically created to re-engage Malaysians with Volvo’s core values in safety.

In Malaysia, “Selamat” has a double meaning.  Spoken every day, most often used to wish each other well – Selamat Pagi or safe journey, Selamat Jalan. ‘Selamat’ in isolation also means ‘safety’ – a belief that has been the foundation of Volvo’s Malaysian presence since 1966.

The campaign launched on 15th January with an ES90 disguised with a specially designed ‘Selamat’ camo wrap, which was driven around Kuala Lumpur for a week. This was supported by a digital outdoor, social campaign and website that drove speculation and attention to a launch event on 22nd January, where Volvo revealed that ‘Selamat’ is Volvo. What appeared to be yet another new EV entering the market was revealed to be the original pioneer of automotive safety, returning with the same values that have defined it for almost a century.

Patricia Yaw, Sales & Marketing Director of Volvo Car Malaysia, shares: “The electric vehicle landscape in Malaysia is growing fast. New brands are entering the market, many of which assert their own claim towards advanced technology and safety. In a world where everyone says they are safe, safety risks becoming just another feature, something spoken about, but rarely felt. For Volvo, safety has never been a claim. SELAMAT reflects our belief that true progress lies in giving drivers confidence, foresight, and peace of mind on every journey. As mobility continues to evolve, SELAMAT ensures that human life remains at the centre of everything we do.”

Today, Volvo Car Malaysia officially launches SELAMAT, a thematic campaign running throughout 2026, designed to transform road safety from a regulatory mandate into a shared culture.

Throughout the year, Volvo Car Malaysia will host a series of on-ground activations and educational initiatives to reassert the importance of safety fundamentals. These efforts will build towards a major milestone – the SELAMAT Drive, slated for Q2 2026. This flagship driving event will allow Malaysians to experience the synergy between safe driving habits and Volvo’s innovative technologies in a real-world environment.

Shaping the Future of Safety

Volvo Car Malaysia has long been a leader in safety innovation. With SELAMAT, the brand is not only building safer cars—it is helping shape a safer world. This philosophy informs every aspect of Volvo’s design, engineering, and driving experience. SELAMAT stands as a promise, a benchmark, and a movement that will continue to save lives, inspire confidence, and redefine what it means to drive with peace of mind.

A Legacy of Safety Leadership

Since 1927 globally – and since 1966 locally – Volvo’s unwavering commitment to safety has helped shape the global automotive industry. Guided by the belief that safety must be proactive, inclusive, and people-centred, Volvo has consistently set benchmarks for others to follow. Key milestones include:

• The Three-Point Safety Belt (1959):Invented by Volvo, this innovation has saved more than one million lives worldwide and remains one of the most important safety breakthroughs in automotive history.
• Safe Space Technology:An invisible aura of safety – starting from the very chassis of the car to the active and passive technology, built into a Volvo car. This comprehensive suite enables Volvo cars to anticipate risks, adapt to changing conditions, and help prevent accidents before they occur.
• Multi-Adaptive Safety Belt: The next revolution in safety, introduced by Volvo Car Malaysia for the future

These innovations show that Volvo does not wait for others to define safety. Instead, Volvo is the benchmark.

Why SELAMAT Matters Today

This legacy of protection is more urgent now than ever. Road safety remains a pressing concern in Malaysia. According to data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia, 4,428 transport-related fatalities were recorded in Malaysia in 2024¹. It was also the principle causes of death for population aged 15-40 years, which recorded at 2,547 deaths. These figures are a sobering reminder that safety is not an abstract concept—it is deeply personal, affecting families, communities, and lives every single day.

In this context, SELAMAT carries even greater meaning. Beyond its everyday use in greetings such as selamat pagi or selamat malam, the word reflects a deeper wish for protection and well-being. It is what we hope for our loved ones every time they leave home – and what we want to ensure when they return. Through SELAMAT, Volvo transforms this simple yet powerful word into a promise of peace of mind, built on thoughtful design and purposeful innovation.

SELAMAT: A Promise, A Benchmark, A Movement

At its core, the SELAMAT campaign is defined by three pillars:

A Promise: SELAMAT is Volvo Car Malaysia’s enduring vow – a promise that has shaped every innovation, every vehicle, and every generation of drivers for nearly a century. It represents Volvo’s ambition to provide the freedom to move in a personal, sustainable, and safe way, and a clear vision of a future where no one is seriously injured or killed in a Volvo.

A Benchmark: Volvo has always chosen to set its own standards rather than follow existing ones. From Nils Bohlin’s invention of the three-point safety belt to testing vehicles beyond industry requirements, the brand continues to raise the bar. Today, every new Volvo is equipped with Safe Space Technology, leveraging real-world data, artificial intelligence, and continuous software updates to help predict, adapt to, and prevent risks before they happen. In the future, Volvo will introduce the Multi-Adaptive Safety Belt alongside the EX60.

A Movement: Finally, SELAMAT is a movement – one that extends beyond the vehicle and into everyday life. It is present in every safe arrival, every life protected, and every unseen danger avoided. Each innovation, feature, and Volvo vehicle contributes to a larger mission: to make safety the greatest luxury and to foster a culture where care, foresight, and protection are integral to every journey.