Volvo abandons all-electric car promise, will sell hybrid powertrains

Volvo has become the latest automaker to abandon its plans for all-electric vehicles. Although the company originally planned to transition to electric vehicles by 2030, as it announced on August 28, their plans have changed significantly.

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Shortly before the facelifted XC90 was revealed, Volvo announced that they were adjusting their electrification targets. Under the new plan, they aim to have 90 to 100 percent of their vehicles electrified by 2030. That means there will be plug-in hybrids and EVs, as well as possible mild hybrids.

More: Cadillac changes 2030 all-electric car promise, says internal combustion engine cars are still needed

The automaker attributed the change to “market conditions” and said they remain “committed to an all-electric future.” The company added that 26% of second-quarter sales came from electric vehicles, while 48% came from electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles.

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Volvo will continue to develop plug-in hybrids and mild hybrids to ensure a “balanced product portfolio with a solid foundation for an all-electric future”. While this is not what the company wanted, they said the change was necessary due to the slower-than-expected rollout of charging infrastructure, the removal of government incentives in some markets, and the uncertainty caused by the recent tariffs on electric vehicles. The latter hints at their China production plans backfiring, which famously delayed the EX30’s US launch.

“We firmly believe that our future is electric,” Volvo CEO Jim Rowan said in a statement, as it “offers a superior driving experience and increases the possibility to use advanced technologies, improving the overall customer experience.” However, he acknowledged that “the transition to electrification will not be linear and will be adopted at different speeds by customers and markets.”

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