Volvo is currently targeting for nearly all of the cars it sells by 2030 to be electrified instead.
While nearly every other automaker had already since quietly backtracked on their once-bold fully-electric ambitions they made earlier in the decade, Volvo however one of the few that still thought they could achieve their bold 2030 EV-only portfolio. Even up to as late as last week after all, the Swedish automaker was adamant that it was remaining on track to remove all the ICE bit from its new cars by the end of this decade.
Though during the recent launch of its facelifted XC90, even Volvo has finally officially admitted that it too is pulling the plug on its lofty EV ambitions. The Scandinavian marque has now instead announced that it is targeting for plug-in hybrids and full EVs to account for 90% to 100% of annual sales by 2030, with this new goal also subtly indicating that the automaker will be keeping a few plug-less mild-hybrid models around at the start of the next decade.
Volvo here has conceded that this backtrack on its EV-only ambitions comes from the slower-than-projected adoption of fully-electric cars in general, for which it then adds that the current slow rollout of charging infrastructure was among the contributing factors to this. The automaker nevertheless also admits that a withdrawal of government incentives in some markets, as well as uncertainties created by recent tariffs on EVs has also further convinced it to change course.
In the attempt to keep the EV-angelicals happy however, Volvo CEO Jim Rowan has stated that the company is still resolute in their belief of an all-electric future as it “provides a superior driving experience and increases possibilities for using advanced technologies that improve the overall customer experience.” The firm added 26% of sales in the second quarter came from EVs, while nearly half of its deliveries during this period were of models with a plug port built in (full EV and PHEV).
The Swedish automaker currently hopes that cars with a charging cord will account for up to 60% of deliveries by 2025, with the imminent arrival of its newly-teased ES90 fully-electric saloon next year likely being envisioned to help it achieve that goal. In the long run meanwhile, Volvo still is intending to reach its net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.
