The first made-in-China Volvo S90 sedans have arrived in Europe via a new rail link joining China to Europe - but Europe won't be the only region to take Volvo cars from Chinese production.

For now, all Australian-delivered Volvo cars are built in Sweden, but the opening of three plants in China - which will also build the company's new-generation 60- and 40-series cars - will soon see at least the S90 come to Australia from China. The company has yet to confirm, however, if all Australian models will, from some point in the future, be built in China.

Speaking with CarAdvice this week, Volvo Cars Australia communications manager Greg Bosnich said it is "inevitable" that S90 models sold in Australia would eventually be sourced from China, although timing has yet to be finalised.

He stressed that all Volvo production facilities, regardless of location, use the company's global manufacturing system, and meet Volvo's internal quality standards.

Volvo would not be the first premium brand (although it is more of a challenger brand in the premium market) to send cars to Australia from factories outside its country of origin, although it will be the first to do some from China.