Volvo prepares for 'turbulent 2025' with new models
Last year was Volvo's second consecutive year of record sales, with 763,389 cars delivered, an 8 per cent increase on 2023. Despite this solid result, the Swedish brand is preparing for a "turbulent 2025 due to challenging market conditions". To remain competitive, the company is finalising a revamped vehicle line-up.
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Volvo President and CEO Jim Rowan revealed the company's plans at a press conference to release last year's report. A more "off-road" version of the company's smallest electric crossover, the EX30 Cross Country, will be unveiled as early as 10 February. More importantly, Volvo will unveil its first electric sedan, the ES90, later this year. In addition, a plug-in hybrid with a long electric range is planned for China, and two existing models will undergo a refresh.
Volvo's future model range. Illustration: Volvo
The EX60 won't go on sale this year. It will enter the market in 2026 as the brand's first electric model based on the SPA3 platform, which will allow the brand to achieve "significant cost reductions". It is not yet known whether this means lower prices for consumers, but Volvo promises to deliver "customer benefits and new technological developments".
Volvo Cars' plans. Illustration: Volvo
Volvo's chief claims the new EX60 will be a "game changer" for the brand, with two more SPA3-based models already in development. Volvo won't focus solely on electric cars, however. The company has already abandoned plans to go fully electric by 2030. Instead, it wants plug-in hybrid and electric models to account for 90-100 per cent of sales. During the conference, the company's CEO said mild hybrids are still in the plans for the coming years.
Sales of Volvo's zero-emission vehicles rose 54 per cent last year to 175,194 units, or 23 per cent of total deliveries. Volvo said its electric cars had the highest market share among premium carmakers. Including plug-in hybrids, vehicles with charging port (PHEV+EV) accounted for 46 per cent of total deliveries in 2024.
Source: Motor1
