Volvo Will Sell Electric Car By 2019; Plug-in Hybrid S90 Sooner

Aaron Cole
by Aaron Cole

Volvo announced Thursday that it would make an all-electric car available by 2019 and offer more plug-in hybrid versions of its cars sooner, starting with the S90. Volvo already sells a plug-in hybrid version of its XC90 SUV.

The automaker’s announced plans follow news that it would make a compact crossover by 2018, likely called the XC40, which would eventually share the same architecture as its V40 and V40 Cross Country.

According to the automaker, Volvo expects 10 percent of its sales by 2020 to be of electric cars. The automaker reported 465,000 sales in 2014.

The push for hybrid and electric cars by Volvo is seen as the Swedish automaker’s attempt to capitalize on growing backlash toward diesel. Volvo currently offers at least five different diesel engines in its cars internationally.

“We believe that the time has come for electrified cars to cease being a niche technology and enter the mainstream,” Hakan Samuelsson, President and CEO of Volvo Cars, said in a statement.

In China, Volvo sells a long-wheelbase version of its S60 sedan with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. The S60L has been confirmed for the U.S. for later this year, but a plug-in hybrid version hasn’t yet been announced.

Aaron Cole
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 22 comments
  • SCE to AUX SCE to AUX on Oct 15, 2015

    So Volvo is going to ramp from 0 to 50k EVs in a year's time, only 5 years from now? OK.

    • BlueEr03 BlueEr03 on Oct 15, 2015

      I think they are including the sales of their plug-in hybrids in that number. So all of their XC90 T8 sales would already count to the 10%.

  • Corey Lewis Corey Lewis on Oct 15, 2015

    Because your top end niche luxury (S90) Swede-Chinese car should have the further applied niche of plug-in. Make sure it's $100,000 as well, more than the S-Class or A8. I think Volvo just doesn't get it. Nor would I trust such advanced tech coming from them. It's like they're in a constant state of experimentation with drive trains since they ran out of Ford bits a few years ago.

    • See 14 previous
    • RideHeight RideHeight on Oct 16, 2015

      @Spartan Sven and me are thank you! -Zhen

  • Everyone in Europe will be on EV within 30 years. IT's the only way to beat their crushing TAXES ON FOSSIL FUELS. Once the money slows down from taxes on CO2, they'll just tax you on your EV with a "voltage tax" or "amp tax" or something. They'll come up with it - and you'll just be forced to pay it. GOVERNMENT is FORCE.

    • See 2 previous
    • Shaker Shaker on Oct 16, 2015

      @SCE to AUX I'm on board with that "Road Tax" (having just bought a 2015 Volt) - just not a flat fee, as I don't drive too much, and don't plan on burning much Exxon/Iran/Fractastic/ISIS Petrol in the future.

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