Volvo is the latest brand to take aim at American electric car maker Tesla.

The Swedish brand is the latest to confirm it is developing a long-range, fully-electric vehicle to rival the game-changing Model S, joining an arsenal of premium brands rushing to create an alternative including Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Porsche.

In an interview with Australian media at the 2016 Detroit motor show, Volvo's global boss Hakan Samuelsson said the un-named EV will hit showrooms in 2019 as the final showcase piece in a completely revitalised model line up that is planned to roll out over the next three years.

While he conceded the car is still in its infantile stages and it has yet to be decided whether it will be an SUV or sedan – or even feature its own unique body style – Samuelsson confirmed it will be based on the same flexible platform, dubbed SPA, that underpins the latest-generation XC90 and the S90 sedan that made its public debut at Detroit. He also said the company has set a target battery range of at least 500km on a full charge.

Volvo will have a full electric vehicle on sale by 2019 Photo: Supplied

"I think for Volvo it should be a real Volvo electric car," he said.

"We always foresee that in the middle area [of the car's platform]; it is safe for that but we can add more batteries in the future that can reach this target of 500km – we feel that is what you need to have a real electric car."

Samuelssen said while Volvo, as a company, and the SPA platform itself, is technically capable of producing an electric car today, he conceded that a lot of work is still required in developing and building a suitable charging network that would allow owners to use their vehicles outside of city limits; a factor he says is critical for Volvo owners and one that will be solved in the short-term by its commitment to offer a plug-in hybrid variant in all of its new models.

"There is still a lot of infrastructure that still has to come too before you can start selling a full electric Volvo," he said.

"Maybe you can sell a full electric city car but our customers also like to drive their Volvo between cities. So before that infrastructure is in place, I think the plug-in hybrid technology is a very good technology to bridge into a full electric future."