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Volvo has become the latest car manufacturer to announce a fully electric line-up by 2030. Following announcements from Jaguar and Ford, this comes as no surprise, as sales of new petrol and diesel cars will end in the UK by 2030 – with other countries likely to adopt similar plans.
Moving slightly ahead of some other manufacturers, Volvo says that by 2030 it also won’t have any hybrids on sale.
Volvo says that its transition towards becoming a fully electric car maker is part of its ambitious climate plan, which seeks to consistently reduce the lifecycle carbon footprint per car through concrete action.
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.
Volvo Cars’ move towards full electrification comes together with an increased focus on online sales and a more complete and transparent consumer offer under the name Care by Volvo, involving all fully electric models being available online only.
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-engined cars is a shrinking one.
“To remain successful, we need profitable growth. So instead of investing in a shrinking business, we choose to invest in the future – electric and online,” said Håkan Samuelsson, Chief Executive of Volvo Cars. “We are fully focused on becoming a leader in the fast-growing premium electric segment.”
Volvo Cars launched its first fully electric car, the XC40 Recharge, in markets around the globe last year. Later today, the company will reveal its second fully electric car, a new model in the 40 series.
In the coming years, Volvo Cars will roll out several additional electric models, with more to follow. Already by 2025, it aims for 50 per cent of its global sales to consist of fully electric cars, with the rest hybrids. By 2030, every car it sells should be fully electric.
“There is no long-term future for cars with an internal combustion engine,” said Henrik Green, Chief Technology Officer at Volvo Cars. “We are firmly committed to becoming an electric-only car maker and the transition should happen by 2030. It will allow us to meet the expectations of our customers and be a part of the solution when it comes to fighting climate change.”
