Volvo has been one of the most proactive carmakers in the electric vehicle (EV) race so far. It used its partnership with Chinese giant Geely to leverage its EV development, coming in strong and early in the game, as well as electrifying all of its models with either hybrid or plug-in hybrid technology. The carmaker recently launched its first-ever electric three-row SUV, the EX90, which is being built in the U.S. as I write this. And last year, it introduced the small, but mighty EX30 subcompact crossover, a vehicle built from the ground up as a full EV. In other words, it’s not a gasoline-powered model converted for EV duty like the XC40 Recharge (now called the EX40).
This attitude towards electrification seems to pay off for Volvo, at least on a global scale. Its EV sales grew 54-percent last year, even with the EX30 being delayed on U.S. soil.
The Volvo EX30 Was Volvo’s EV Sales Leader
While U.S. buyers are still waiting after the EX30 due to complications related to tariffs related to Chinese-built vehicles, Volvo’s little crossover that could is actually the one that’s leading the pack for the carmaker in terms of EV sales. The vehicle has been met with tremendous demand elsewhere in the world. Out of the 175,194 EVs the Swedish carmaker sold last year, 98,065 of them were EX30s.
Other new and noteworthy electric players from Volvo include the EX90 and the EM90 electric minivan. Add to that roster the existing EX40 and C40 coupe, and Volvo’s EVs have added another 100,768 sales to the carmaker’s total 2024 sales portfolio. The result of all this was a spectacular end-of-year for Volvo, with no less than 763,389 vehicles sold worldwide. That not only represents a record for the automaker, it’s the eighth time since 2014 that Volvo has broken its global sales record.
What’s So Great About The Volvo EX30?
I’ve had the privilege of driving the Volvo EX30 three times, actually. The first being at its global launch in Barcelona last year, the second here in Canada as a press unit since it’s available here, and the third time during my EV road trip when I visited Sweden in the fall. I understand why folks like this thing, because it truly encapsulates the Scandinavian mindset of doing more with less.
There’s a truly minimalist approach to the EX30’s design, from a limited number of actual buttons in the cabin, to a generally small footprint that requires less resources to build. It looks sort of cool, too, cute and sporty. The range is competitive, and so is charging. And the pricing ladder makes sense, even for a premium model. If you opt for a dual-motor all-wheel-drive version, the EX30 is so quick off the line, that it will embarrass even purpose-built sports cars.
Volvo said later last year that the EX30 would arrive at U.S. dealers in early 2025 as the carmaker shifts production from China to its Ghent plant, in Belgium. If the American people embrace the EX30 like the rest of the world did, it could mean more good news for Volvo’s EV sales this year.
Read the full article here