Volvo Cars has stated that it will discontinue global manufacturing of all diesel cars and SUVs in its range by early 2024, a significant step toward becoming a purely electric car manufacturer. Volvo has pledged to deliver only fully electric vehicles by 2030, with an even larger objective of reaching climate neutrality by 2040. This statement was made during Climate Week NYC, where Volvo formally declared the end of production for all diesel-powered vehicles, with the final diesel Volvo slated to be put out in only a few months.
This decision follows Volvo’s decision last year to stop developing new combustion engines. The business sold its stake in Aurobay, a joint venture that held its remaining combustion engine assets, in November 2022.
“Electric powertrains are our future and superior to combustion engines; they generate less noise, less vibration, lower servicing costs for our customers, and zero tailpipe emissions,” says Volvo Cars CEO Jim Rowan. “We are completely committed to developing a diverse portfolio of premium, fully electric vehicles that deliver on everything our customers expect from a Volvo and are an important part of our response to climate change.”
Since 2019, when diesel cars accounted for the vast bulk of Volvo’s European sales, the scene has transformed dramatically. However, as of 2022, it accounted for only 8.9 percent of overall sales for the Swedish automaker. Furthermore, according to August sales numbers, fully electric or hybrid cars accounted for 33% of Volvo’s total sales. The European market has seen a significant increase in sales of electrified vehicles, including both fully electric and plug-in hybrid models.
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