From 2026 onwards, the fully electric Volvo EX90, ES90, and the Polestar 3 will no longer feature LiDAR sensors, following reports from Carscoops that Volvo has terminated its contract with US-based LiDAR supplier, Luminar.
Addressing the move, a Volvo USA spokesperson stated the decision was made “to meet customer demand and due to limited supply of the LiDAR hardware.” Affected customers who have ordered the above mentioned models will be contacted by Volvo.
This shift has not happened overnight. Volvo had moved to make LiDAR an optional extra in late October 2025, reversing its initial plan to offer the system as a standard feature. Luminar has pushed back against this reversal, filing a claim with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) seeking significant damages.
Following a termination notice on 14 November 2025, Luminar confirmed that it will cease supplying LiDAR sensors to Volvo for 2026. This suspension extends to future projects in 2027 and 2029 involving the next-generation LiDAR sensors currently under development.
The termination is particularly significant as it casts uncertainty on development plans for Luminar’s next-generation LiDAR sensor, known as ‘Halo’. Unlike the current ‘Iris’ LiDAR unit, which forms the distinctive bump on the roof of the EX90, the Halo sensor was designed to be four times more powerful, yet one-third the size, allowing it to sit seamlessly behind the windshield or blend into the roofline.
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Commenting on the discontinuation of LiDAR on the EX90 and ES90, Volvo maintained that both models will continue to meet their stringent safety standards and provide a high level of driver support.
Volvo further stated, “The company’s products can deliver a high level of safety and driver support, enabled by the cars’ powerful core computing coupled with their advanced sensor set, with or without a LiDAR.”
With the global termination of the Luminar contract, it is highly likely that the Volvo EX90 in Malaysia will no longer be offered with a LiDAR sensor from 2026 onwards. The same applies to the upcoming Volvo ES90, which is slated to launch in Malaysia in 2026 as a locally assembled (CKD) model.
The decision to discontinue LiDAR on the EX90 in 2026 comes after the updated EX90’s reveal for the same year. The updated model features a new 800V architecture and an improved ADAS system, powered by dual Nvidia Drive AGX Orin processors delivering 500 Trillion Operations Per Second (TOPS).
Currently, the pre-update Volvo EX90 is available in Malaysia in a sole “Ultra Twin” variant, priced at RM442,888. The Malaysian-spec model is equipped with the higher-output dual-motor powertrain, producing 510 hp and 910 Nm. It uses a 111 kWh battery pack that provides a range of 623 km (WLTP).
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