- Volvo will launch the EX60 electric compact crossover in 2026
- A launch video for the ES90 electric hatchback provides a sneak peek at the EX60
- The EX60 will be the first model on Volvo’s next-generation SPA3 platform
Volvo has provided a sneak peek at its upcoming EX60 electric compact crossover during a video released on March 5 for the reveal of the ES90 electric midsize hatchback.
A partial reveal of a clay model appears at the 24:55 mark in the video, clearly marked as the EX60.
The Swedish automaker had already confirmed plans for the EX60 while announcing its financial results in February. According to Volvo, the EX60 is set to debut in 2026 as the first model based on its next-generation SPA3 dedicated EV platform. The company also noted that prototype testing is already underway.
Volvo’s current EV platform, the SPA2, was introduced just last year in the EX90. It has since spawned the ES90 and is also used in Polestar’s 3 midsize SUV.
Volvo ES90
The original SPA platform, which debuted a decade ago with the XC90, was designed for gas and plug-in hybrid powertrains. While SPA3 will build upon SPA2, Volvo has emphasized that the two platforms will share the same software and hardware modules, referred to as the Volvo Cars Superset tech stack. However, SPA3 will improve scalability, allowing it to accommodate a wider range of vehicle sizes, from subcompacts to full-size models.
Another key advancement expected with SPA3 is the introduction of mega casting, a production technique where multiple body structure components are replaced by a single cast component. This approach reduces weight and enhances manufacturing efficiency. Volvo announced in 2022 that mega casting would be implemented at its Torslanda plant in Sweden, which currently produces the XC60 and has been confirmed as the production site for SPA3-based vehicles.
Updated Volvo XC60
Despite the arrival of the EX60, Volvo will continue selling the XC60, which received a refresh in February to stay competitive alongside its electric counterpart. The refresh included minor tweaks to the exterior and new tech in the cabin, including Volvo’s latest infotainment system.
Expect more of Volvo’s gas and plug-in hybrid vehicles to stick around. The automaker announced last fall that it is abandoning a plan to only sell EVs by 2030, stating that it expects to still be selling gas and plug-in hybrid vehicles by that date.
