As previously revealed by Autocar, the EX60 will be the first Volvo designed to benefit from megacasting, a technology set to be introduced with the SPA3 that allows for entire sections of a vehicle to be created as a single part rather than multiple elements. That, along with other changes and the more modular nature of the SPA3, will also lower production costs.
Volvo has said that the SPA3 could theoretically be used for cars smaller than the EX30 and bigger than the EX90. Bell added: “It’s designed for scale in every dimension: when it comes to size, my job is to make sure that the company has optionality. We are designing [the SPA3] to be scalable from B to F [segments], to make sure that we have flexibility and that we can launch the products that markets decide they want when they want it.”
Since all future new Volvo models will share the same basic tech stack, Bell added that it will allow for more focused and rapid development. “Because it’s all one technology stack, there’s no repeat of work,” he said. “It’s the same software stack, same basic electrical architecture. Yes, it’s scalable in size, price and capabilities, but it’s not spreading our products in different ecosystems.
“Everything we do gets married to the Volvo connected car cloud. If you look at successful tech companies, they’re all single tech stack companies where all their products are interlinked. Apple’s a good example: hardware, software, telephones, laptops, they’re basically all interconnected with the same software. That’s one example of where we need to be converging as a technology company going forward. Our focal point is safety, sustainability and creating this fantastic customer experience all wrapped in this Scandinavian design, on one tech stack.”