Volvo Rethinks Its Electrification Plans By 2030 Due To ‘Changing Market Conditions’
The Chinese-owned Swedish car marque, just like many other legacy auto giants, is adjusting its all-electric plans.
The Chinese-owned Swedish car marque, just like many other legacy auto giants, is adjusting its all-electric plans.
The Chinese-owned Swedish carmaker had huge plans of launching the $35,000 Volvo EX30 in the U.S.
The Swedish auto giant currently manufactures the EX30 in Zhangjiakou, China but EU and the U.S. are planning tariffs on China-made EVs.
The bug is causing the digital speedometer to enter ‘test’ mode. Volvo has recalled almost 72,000 EX30 electric SUVs for a software glitch. The Geely-owned Swedish carmaker has been struggling with issues pertaining to software glitches for a while now. You must remember that the production of the large EX90 electric SUV was delayed by over 6 months due to the same reason last year. In fact, the 3-row electric SUV went into production last week at Volvo’s Charleston plant in South Carolina. You might also like: Volvo Starts Production of EX90 Electric SUV in the U.S. Volvo EX30 EVs Recalled The bug is sending the digital speedometer into ‘test’ mode for some reason. This was occurring on the central vertically-oriented touchscreen. However, the best thing about most software issues in any modern EV is the fact that the owners don’t have to queue up at the service center for hours. The approximately 72,000 affected vehicles were conveniently fixed by an over-the-air (OTA) update. Hence, the EX30 owners were not bothered by this problem all that much. Note that the EX30 deliveries were delayed earlier this year due to another software glitch. Unfortunately, Volvo has consistently been plagued by such electrical anomalies for quite some time now. But the EX90 production hurdle has been overcome and this latest bug has also been fixed. We can only hope that Volvo doesn’t encounter any more obstacles as the brand expands its footprint in various international markets. Another poignant information pertaining to Volvo EX30 is that some parts of the production will now move from China to Belgium (Europe) to prevent tariffs which the EU is planning to slap on Chinese-made vehicles. Interestingly, this is not a last-moment reaction to these tariffs. Volvo had the Belgium production plan in the works for a while now. Hence, there won’t be a huge issue shifting the production to Europe from China. You might also like: Jeep Plans To Increase Its PHEV Sales By 50% In 2024 Learn Electric Cars Says As automotive electronics increase in modern cars, it becomes crucial to understand that the fixes are also mostly over-the-air. However, it is slightly concerning that these software glitches can be this frequent in an established carmaker like Volvo. Therefore, we must be aware of the kind of world we live in. I don’t think this is something to be worried about. Most bugs are easily fixed with software updates anyway. Companies keep working behind the scenes to take care of these problems. Essentially, the relevance of tech companies is evident in modern cars. That is also the reason why we see tech companies trying to get into the business of making cars. Xiaomi, Apple (Apple has dropped the plans now), Sony, etc. are perfect examples of this. There are minimal hardcore mechanical components in modern EVs. Electronics form the biggest portion of any modern automobile. Hence, such issues are going to be rather common in our world going forward.
The Swedish auto giant originally planned on starting manufacturing in the U.S. last year but software bugs delayed it. The production of the Volvo EX90 flagship electric SUV has eventually commenced in the U.S. EX90 is a three-row electric SUV with 6- and 7-seat configurations. The manufacturing plant is situated just outside Charleston, South Carolina in the U.S. It has a capacity to build up to 150,000 cars per year. This facility commenced operations in the summer of 2018. Along with the EX90 electric SUV, Volvo makes the S60 sedan here. You might also like: Hyundai To Use Carbon Fiber In Its EVs For Improved Performance Volvo EX90 Electric SUV Starts Production in U.S. In the recent times, the Swedish car marque made extensive investments in this facility. As a result, the body shop and paint shop have been renewed and expanded substantially. In addition to that, the plant is now also equipped with a state-of-the-art battery pack production line. Note that the EX90 electric SUV is designed to be the safest Volvo car ever. It is based on the next generation, born-electric EV technology base. The first EX90 which rolled off the production line bears the Denim Blue color and will get delivered later this year. Volvo Chief Executive, Jim Rowan commented, “The fully electric Volvo EX90 is the start of a new era for Volvo Cars – a new era for safety, sustainability and human-centric technology. The EX90 is proudly manufactured in the USA and reflects our long-term commitment to our people in South Carolina and the broader US market.” You might also like: 2024 Chevy Equinox EV Offers Incredible Value For Money Volvo EX90 Electric SUV – Specs and Price The flagship electric SUV from Volvo comes in two variants – Twin Motor and Twin Motor Performance. These come in 6- and 7-seat configurations called Plus 7 Seat, Plus 6 Seat, Ultra 7 Seat and Ultra 6 Seat. In the standard Twin Motor guise, the two electric motors produce a respectable 402 hp and 568 lb-ft (769 Nm), while in the Performance Twin Motor version, these figures escalate to a healthy 496 hp and 671 lb-ft (909 Nm). With both trims, there is a 111 kWh battery pack as standard. The regular Twin Motor guise can do a 0 to 60 mph (96 kmph) sprint in just 5.7 seconds, while in the Performance avatar, it achieves the same feat in a handy 4.7 seconds. Interestingly, both these versions offer a usable range of 300 miles (483 km) on a single charge. The base Twin Motor starts at $76,695. On the other hand, the Performance Twin Motor ranges from $81,695 and tops out at $86,545. Specs Volvo EX90 Electric SUV Battery 111 kWh Range 300 miles (483 km) Drivetrain Twin-Motor AWD Power 402 hp – 496 hp Torque 568 lb-ft (769 Nm) – 671 lb-ft (909 Nm) Acc. (0-60 mph / 96 kmph) 5.7 seconds & 4.7 seconds Specs You might also like: Jeep Plans To Increase Its PHEV Sales By 50% In 2024 Learn Electric Cars Says Volvo Cars sold 10,153 units in the U.S. in May this year. This constitutes of 3,914 (28.3%) plug-in cars. Interestingly, this number is 29% more than the same month last year. However, out of these plug-in cars, 3,617 (92%) units were plug-in hybrids. Unfortunately, Volvo has just sold 1,595 pure EVs this year so far. That is evidently one area where the Swedish auto giant wants to improve. Hence, the EX90! We shall keep an eye out for how well the customers embrace the flagship electric SUV from Volvo once deliveries commence later this year.
The 2024 World Car Awards have been announced and the Korean auto giants have displayed an impressive performance. We take a look at all the winners at the 2024 World Car Awards. This ceremony took place yesterday at the New York International Auto Show. It represents a prestigious accolade within the automotive industry. The judging panel comprised over 100 expert journalists and automotive specialists from more than 30 countries. Drawing from a diverse range of experiences, they evaluated vehicles based on specific criteria to ensure the selection of only the finest models available. You might also like: Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e PHEV Announced w/ DC Fast Charging Winners at 2024 World Car Awards 2024 World Car Of The Year The finalists in this revered category were the BYD Seal, Kia EV9 and Volvo EX30. However, it was the Korean Kia EV9 which took home the title. The jury recognized the innovative design, spacious cabin, plenty of tech features and enticing prices. Interestingly, it is not the only title the Kia EV9 bagged. 2024 World Electric Vehicle Award Next up, we take a look at the World Electric Vehicle Award. In this category, the contenders were – BMW i5, Kia EV9 and Volvo EX30. Again, the award went to Kia EV9. That is a huge feather in the cap of the EV9 to have bagged two titles despite stiff competition. You might also like: Kia EV6 Facelift Spotted Testing – Everything We Know So Far 2024 World Performance Car The fire-breathing EVs were also competing for the 2024 World Performance Car award. As the name suggests, it included EVs which are designed for spirited driving characteristics. The finalists included BMW M2 (Second-gen), BMW XM and Hyundai IONIQ 5 N. On this occasion, the Korean giant, Hyundai took the cake with its IONIQ 5 N hot electric hatch/crossover. 2024 World Luxury Car You must’ve seen luxury carmakers offering their EVs in recent times as well. In these cases, the aim is to provide the utmost comfort and convenience to the occupants. The candidates for this category included – BMW 5 Series and i5, Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV. In this all-German encounter, the BMW 5 Series and i5 took the top spot (combined). You might also like: Key Highlights Of The BMW Vision Neue Klasse X Revealed 2024 World Urban Car Finally, the 2024 World Urban Car award was also up for grabs. This is for the vehicles which customers generally use for daily commutes. Hence, practicality, ownership characteristics and affordability might have been the deciding factors in this case. The top contenders were Volvo EX30, BYD Dolphin and Lexus LBX. The Swedish carmaker won this title with its EX30. You might also like: Mercedes VISION EQXX Drives 1,010 km On Single Charge, Still Has 309 km Range Left Learn Electric Cars Says This esteemed award ceremony serves as a validation for car manufacturers, affirming that they have produced something truly exceptional. With multiple categories, various aspects of vehicles are carefully evaluated for this prestigious accolade. The dominance of electric vehicles in these awards may indeed foreshadow future trends in the automotive industry.
Volvo has revealed the EX30 SUV as the fastest-accelerating vehicle ever produced by the Swedish automotive giant. Volvo EX30 SUV has been revealed making it one of the most powerful cars ever produced by the Swedish car marque. Technically, it is one of the more compact models in the portfolio measuring at just under 4.25 m in length. But the performance trim boasts some pretty insane numbers. In terms of styling, it borrows some elements from the larger and more premium EX90 like the rectangular modules in the LED headlamps with the ‘Thor’s Hammer’ pattern. You may also like: 5 Unique Features on Jeep Avenger You Might Not Know About Volvo EX30 SUV Revealed – Specs Based on Geely’s SEA platform that also underpins the Polestar 4 and Smart #1, the EX30 comes with a single-motor RWD and a dual-motor AWD setup producing 272 hp and 428 hp of peak power respectively. The battery options include a usable 49 kWh (LFP) or a 64 kWh (NMC) offering 214 mi (344 km) and 298 mi (480 km) of range respectively. The standard single-motor version RWD can do a 0-60 mph (96 km/h) sprint in just 5.7 secs while the dual-motor AWD trim could replicate this sprint in a spine-chilling 3.4 secs making it the fastest-accelerating Volvo ever. Volvo EX30 Specs Battery (usable) 49 & 64 kWh Platform Geely’s SEA Drivetrain RWD / AWD Range (WLTP) 214 mi – 298 mi Range (WLTP) 344 km – 480 km Power 272 – 428 hp DC Rapid Charging 26.5 mins (10-80%) Acceleration (0-96 km/h) 5.7 secs – 3.4 secs Specs You may also like: Lexus RZ Electric SUV Outdoor Concept Looks Adventurous Interior & Features The interior of the Volvo EX30 is made up of lots of sustainable and recycled materials making it the car with the smallest carbon footprint in the entire lineup. The centre stage is inherited by a colossal 12.3-inch vertically-aligned Touchscreen Infotainment Display with Built-in Google Services, Connected Car Tech Functions, Wireless Smartphone Charging, 4 USB-C Ports, Snapdragon Chip for Fast Computing, 5G Internet, OTA Updates, a Soundbar that runs across the width of the dashboard with premium audio experience, Powered Seats, ADAS Features including Pilot Assist, Collision Avoidance Systems, Driver Alert System, Park Pilot Assist, 360-Degree Camera, Door Opening Alert, and more. You may also like: Kia Niro EV vs Soul EV – Specs, Features, Price, Dimensions Comparison Price and Launch Volvo is present in all major markets across the globe. In the USA, the prices start at just $34,950 (MSRP). In the UK, the entry-level version will set you back by an attractive £33,795. An even more affordable version is on its way that will retail for around £31,000. One could order the electric compact SUV right away and the deliveries are slated to commence in early 2024.