Swedish carmaker reaffirms electric commitment at the expense of traditional models
Volvo has announced it’ll stop production of all diesel models next year. It’s always said it would go all-electric by 2030. Now, it’s confirmed that by early 2024, the last Volvo diesel car will have rolled off the production line.
After selling its stake in its combustion engine assets last November, the brand has been planning to make this move for some time.
According to Jim Rowan, CEO of Volvo Cars, electric powertrains are the future, and they are superior to combustion engines: they generate less noise, less vibration, and lower maintenance costs for our customers. Volvo plans to develop a wide range of premium, 100% electric vehicles that will deliver everything their customers expect from a Volvo while contributing to climate change mitigation.
The company launched the first diesel plug-in hybrid in 2011. While Volvo acknowledges that diesel engines have long been its ‘bread and butter’ in Europe, the Chinese-owned marque hopes that stepping away from diesel will inspire other manufacturers to do the same.
UK diesel sales have been falling month-on-month. However, at SMMT Electrified 2023, Lynn Calder, CEO of Ineos Automotive, emphasized the need for a mix of powertrains. Calder pointed out how its 4×4 models tend to be hard-working, often in rural environments, where the infrastructure for supporting EVs is lacking. Calder asserts that we talk about electric vehicles all the time, and that is quite dangerous.
Calder has indicated that a mix will be required. “If we simply say that electric vehicles are the way forward for the UK, there is a risk we will fail, and that risk will be expensive.” This is why Ineos has announced that they will be launching an electric 4×4 by 2026.
As can be seen, Volvo believes that going fully electrified is not as risky as it appears. Rowan has stated that the world needs leadership at this critical moment for humankind and the planet. Taking meaningful action to combat climate change requires strong and decisive leadership on the part of industry and government leaders.
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