--- title: "Volvo Has Dropped Luminar and Lidar for 2026 Models" date: "2025-11-18" modified: "2025-11-18" authors: - name: "Adam Ismail" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/adam-ismail" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/volvo-has-dropped-luminar-and-lidar-for-2026-models" categories: - "Car Tech" - "News" - "News by Brand" - "Self-Driving Tech" - "Volvo News" tags: - "Electric Vehicle" - "luxury" - "suv/crossover" - "Volvo" --- # Volvo Has Dropped Luminar and Lidar for 2026 Models ![Volvo EX90 driving in desert at sunset]() *\David Shepherd/Volvo\* Volvo has been one of the industry's stalwart supporters of lidar for autonomous driving, even while the sensors in some of its models were [frying smartphone cameras](). However, the automaker has been at odds with its supplier of the technology, Luminar, for some time, which led it to recently make lidar optional on its ES90 and EX90 models—vehicles that previously featured it as standard equipment. Today, we've learned they won't be featuring it as *any* equipment, as [Volvo]() confirmed to *The Drive* that lidar will be gone entirely from its range starting with the 2026 model year. "Volvo Cars has decided to remove the lidar sensor from its EX90 and [ES90]() cars and discontinue its relationship with supplier Luminar," a Volvo Cars USA spokesperson wrote in a statement Tuesday. "Volvo Cars has made this decision to limit the company's supply chain risk exposure and it is a direct result of Luminar's failure to meet its contractual obligations to Volvo Cars. "To meet customer demand, be able to offer the Volvo EX90 and the ES90 cars to more customers as well as limit the company’s supply chain risk exposure, Volvo Cars had previously made the decision to make lidar optional on these vehicles starting 2026. The termination of the agreement with Luminar means lidar will no longer be offered on any EX90 or ES90 car from Model Year 2026 onwards." ![Volvo ES90 parked, side view]() *Volvo ES90. *Volvo** That leaves it in no uncertain terms that Volvo has terminated its relationship with Luminar due to the supplier's alleged failure to uphold its commitments to the automaker. Given Luminar's [recent reported struggles]() of hemorrhaging cash, significantly cutting its workforce, and a major executive shakeup that also involves a prior ethics investigation from the company's board of directors, it's not particularly surprising that Volvo has lost confidence in the Orlando-based firm. All this has left Luminar in an even more dangerous position. On Monday, [it stated in an SEC filing]() regarding the end of the contract that "there can be no guarantee that any claim or litigation against Volvo will be successful or that the Company will be able to recover damages from Volvo." As for how this will affect Volvo going forward, the automaker has not indicated that it will replace or is looking to replace Luminar's contribution with lidar components from another supplier, so this very well could be the end of the road for the technology in its vehicles. "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," the statement continued. "This situation has an effect on some customer orders, and we regret any concerns this might cause. We’re currently in the process of contacting affected customers." *Got a tip? Drop us a line at tips@thedrive.com*[]()[]()[]()[]() ## Author Adam is a Senior Editor at The Drive, concentrating on curating and developing the site's slate of daily journalism, from initial pitch to final copy edit. When he's not at his desk researching leads and working with writers, he's testing vehicles or reviewing racing games, new and old. He joined The Drive in 2023, following seven years of covering consumer technology and cars. A car lover and gamer since his earliest memories, Adam came to know the automotive world through video games. First it was Daytona USA, Sega Rally, and Ridge Racer; then came Need For Speed, which inspired an encyclopedic knowledge of '90s supercars, and, of course, Gran Turismo. If not for them, he'd assuredly be doing something else right now. Adam is based in the suburbs outside Philly, where there are ample roads for his hot hatch to stretch its legs. In his car, he's probably listening to indie rock, drum and bass, or Yankees baseball. ### Author social links [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()