New models and innovation set to drive Volvo into 2026
What was your most significant recent car launch?
The EX90 was launched as our first software-defined vehicle, meaning software is now replacing hardware as the primary driver of innovation and value creation.
We can use software to improve the performance of our cars over time, including suspension, battery range and crucially safety features.
This is the template for all future Volvo cars including the ES90 and EX60, which will both feature the same incredible technology called the Super Set Tech Stack.
What new models are on the way in 2026?
The beautiful and spacious ES90 is due to arrive at our showrooms just before Christmas 2025, with customer orders arriving in Q1.
Following this we have the eagerly anticipated reveal of our EX60 in January.
This is such an exciting launch as the EX60 will join the XC60 plug-in hybrid in the premium mid-sized SUV segment.
The XC60 has been our biggest seller right across the globe for the best part of a decade and has dominated the segment here in Ireland.
I have had the opportunity to drive the new EX60 on our test track in Gothenburg and it really lives up to the legacy created by its PHEV sibling.
This will complete our EV line-up, joining the EX30, EX40, EC40, EX90 and ES90.
How would you describe your USP?
Volvo’s USP will always be our uncompromising commitment to safety.
We don’t just meet safety standards; we set our own. Long before third-party testing, our real-world research has led to life-saving innovations, including the three-point safety belt and now our advanced driver assistance systems.
They are helping to protect our drivers in a crash and actively helping to prevent one.
How do you view competition from Chinese manufacturers?
Intense competition will always ensure that our offering is sharp and focused on the customer’s needs.
We have a unique offering, and we feel that our Swedish heritage, our keen focus on safety and our pursuit of exceptional customer service give us a point of difference in the marketplace, not just against the newer competitors but also against our more traditional premium competition.
Volvo ES90. Picture Conor McCabe Photography.
Can you predict a trend in the market for next year?
I believe BEVs will overtake petrol during 2026, having already overtaken diesel last year. In fact, between electric and plug-in hybrid cars, I am confident that more than 40 per cent of new customers will choose a car with a plug during 2026.
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