Volvo Cars all-electric by 2030

Volvo Cars aims to be a fully electric car company by 2030 with the first of its all-electric models available here this year.

The company intends to only sell fully electric cars within nine years – moving all sales online by then – and to phase out any car in its global portfolio with an internal combustion engine (ICE), including hybrids.

The next decade will bring rapid change in this space and New Zealand customers of the Swedish marque have already begun to see the first steps in the transition towards a fleet of pure EVs, Volvo NZ general manager Ben Montgomery says.

“The rapid phasing out of all vehicles with an internal combustion engine is an acknowledgement that the fight against climate change has become one of the company’s highest priorities.

“Volvo is in an exciting place to develop sustainable options and be fully electrified by 2030. In fact, in New Zealand we will be the first premium brand to stop selling diesel and will be rolling out more MHEVs and PHEVs shortly.”

The company’s transition towards becoming a fully electric car maker is part of its ambitious climate plan, which seeks to consistently reduce the life cycle carbon footprint per car.

Its decision also builds on the expectation that legislation as well as a rapid expansion of accessible high quality charging infrastructure will accelerate consumer acceptance of fully electric cars.

The 2030 ambition represents an acceleration of Volvo Cars’ electrification strategy, driven by strong demand for its electrified cars in recent years and a firm conviction that the market for combustion engine cars is a shrinking one.

The Chinese-owned Swedish brand is rolling out a new line-up of electric cars and recently unveiled its second battery electric (BEV) model, the C40 Recharge – reportedly similar to the XC40 Recharge but more aerodynamic to improve on the 335km range.

C40 Recharge production is due to start in Belgium later this year.

In coming years Volvo Cars will roll out several additional electric models, with more to follow. Already by 2025, it aims for 50% of its global sales to consist of fully electric cars, with the rest hybrids, going all-electric five years after that.

“To remain successful, we need profitable growth,” chief executive Håkan Samuelsson says.

“So instead of investing in a shrinking business, we choose to invest in the future – electric and online.”