Volvo EX90

Importing a used Volvo EX90 from the USA

The EX90 is Volvo's flagship electric SUV, a three-row, software-defined family car built to sit at the top of the range. Because North America was an early and important market for it, used examples are appearing on the US market with attractive specifications and equipment. For a German buyer, importing a used Volvo EX90 from the USA can mean access to configurations, colours and option packs alongside the running cost advantages of buying a lightly used EV rather than a new one.

Origin is the pivotal question with this model. The EX90 is built in Ridgeville, South Carolina for North America, but Volvo also produces the car elsewhere, so a US-market car is not automatically of US origin — it depends on the specific VIN. USCar Trader checks the VIN and plant code on every EX90, because whether the 0% EU import duty rate applies rests on provable US build origin. Only after that check can we say whether your particular car qualifies or falls under the standard tariff.

Generations at a glance

The EX90 is a first-generation model that entered production for the 2025 model year, so the used pool is young and low-mileage by definition. It sits on Volvo's SPA2 electric architecture and represents the brand's move to a centralised, over-the-air-updatable electronic platform. Early cars have already received software updates that improved charging behaviour and feature availability, so a car's software version and update history are worth noting.

Powertrain lineup

The EX90 is offered as a dual-motor all-wheel-drive EV. The Twin Motor version produces around 408 hp, while the Twin Motor Performance steps up to roughly 510 hp and a 0-100 km/h time comfortably under five seconds. Power comes from a large battery of about 111 kWh (around 107 kWh usable), driving both axles. DC fast charging peaks near 250 kW, and the car uses a heat pump to protect cold-weather efficiency. EPA-rated range for US cars sits in the region of 480 to 500 km depending on wheels and specification.

Trims in the US market

The EX90 is a single body style — a large three-row SUV seating six or seven — offered in Plus and Ultra trims with the two power outputs. Even base cars are richly equipped, with air suspension available on higher specs, a large portrait touchscreen running Google built-in, and an extensive driver-assistance suite that includes a roof-mounted LiDAR sensor feeding the car's safety systems. US cars are frequently loaded with the premium Bowers & Wilkins audio and seven-seat layouts.

The used market stateside

Because the model is new, US used EX90s are typically recent, low-mileage cars, often former demonstrators or short-term leases. That youth is an advantage: batteries are barely cycled and warranties are largely intact in the US, though buyers should understand how Volvo's warranty transfers internationally. As with any early EV, checking the software version and confirming which over-the-air features have been enabled is part of a smart purchase.

Who should import one

The EX90 suits a buyer who wants a large, quiet, safety-focused electric family SUV and is comfortable with early-adopter software. It rewards those who value Volvo's interior design and its assistance technology over outright badge prestige. Buyers who need a proven, long-in-market EV with a deep independent service network may prefer to wait, but for anyone who wants the newest three-row Volvo electric SUV, the import route brings choice and value.

Key specifications

How reliable is it?

As a brand-new model, the EX90's long-term reliability record is still being written, and early cars were defined more by software maturity than by mechanical faults. The most-discussed EX90 common problems in its first year were software-related: charging quirks, occasional infotainment lag, and features that arrived through later over-the-air updates rather than at launch. Volvo has pushed several updates to address these, so a car on the latest software behaves noticeably better. Mechanically the dual-motor EV drivetrain is simple, with far fewer wear items than a combustion car; the main ownership considerations are tyre wear on a heavy vehicle and long-term battery health, which early data suggests is strong. Confirming the software version and update history is the single most useful check on a used EX90.

What US models do differently

US EX90s use the North American charging standard and connector, so a European buyer will typically need an adapter or a workshop conversion to use CCS2 charging comfortably, and this should be planned before import. Instruments default to mph and US-market navigation and radio bands differ. Lighting must meet European rules — headlight beam pattern and the rear fog lamp are the key items. Otherwise the car is fundamentally the same globally, which simplifies homologation.

Seven steps to your import

The sequence is straightforward: select and inspect the car in the US, run a VIN and origin check to establish the duty rate, pay through escrow, ship by ocean freight, clear customs on arrival, complete TÜV and any individual approval, then register. USCar Trader coordinates each step as an independent broker and never marks up the vehicle.

Customs, taxes and costs explained

Bottom line: what matters is the factory shown by the VIN – proven US origin unlocks 0% duty. The 19% import VAT always applies.

Two distinct charges apply. The EU import duty can be 0% under Regulations (EU) 2026/1455 and 2026/1461 for vehicles of provable US origin shipped directly, valid from 1 July 2026 until 31 December 2029 — for the EX90 the South Carolina plant can support this, but only a VIN check confirms it for your car, and it is never guaranteed. Separately and always, the 19% German import VAT (Einfuhrumsatzsteuer) is due on every import, calculated on the customs value plus freight and any duty. USCar Trader passes both through at cost with no margin.

German TÜV and registration

Typical work centres on lighting compliance (headlights, rear fog lamp), confirming the speedometer, and above all sorting the charging interface so the car works on European CCS2 infrastructure. Once the TÜV report is issued the EX90 goes to registration for its German plates.

The buyer checklist

Before buying a used EX90, check these: decode the VIN and confirm the build plant; obtain a full Carfax or AutoCheck history; confirm the software version and which OTA features are active; review battery state of health and any fast-charging history; verify title status is clean; and clarify how the manufacturer warranty transfers on export.

Questions and answers

Can a US Volvo EX90 be imported to Germany at 0% duty?

Only if the VIN and plant code prove US origin and the direct-transport conditions are met. Because Volvo builds the EX90 in more than one country, this is verified per vehicle and never guaranteed in advance.

Does the 19% import VAT still apply to an EV?

Yes. The German Einfuhrumsatzsteuer of 19% applies to every import, including electric vehicles, regardless of origin.

Will a US EX90 charge on European stations?

Not without adaptation. US cars use the North American connector, so an adapter or conversion to CCS2 is needed before the car works comfortably on European DC chargers.

How much range does the EX90 offer?

US EPA figures sit roughly in the 480-500 km range depending on wheels and trim, from a battery of about 111 kWh gross.

Is the EX90 reliable?

Its early issues were mainly software-related and have been addressed through updates. The dual-motor EV drivetrain itself is mechanically simple.

What is the LiDAR sensor for?

The roof-mounted LiDAR feeds the car's driver-assistance and safety systems, improving object detection to support Volvo's safety strategy.

Are used EX90s low mileage?

Generally yes. Because the model is new, US used examples are typically recent, lightly driven cars such as ex-demonstrators.

Does the warranty carry over to Germany?

Warranty transfer on export should be clarified case by case, as coverage terms differ between markets. USCar Trader helps document the car's status.

Begin with Volvo in the Carhub, compare related electric Volvos such as the compact Volvo EX30 and the Volvo C40, or the rival Polestar 3, or view current Volvo EX90 listings.