Volvo aims for 50% EVs by 2025 25 | 04 | 2018
VOLVO HAS SET itself the goal of 50% of its total sales volume being comprised of fully electric cars by 2025. The company made the pledge at the Beijing Motor Show, where the T5 plug-in hybrid version (pictured) of the new XC40 made its first public appearance. China, of course, is home to Volvo’s parent company, Geely. (Related: Roadtest — Volvo XC40)
The significance of Volvo’s EV pledge ties in with Volvo’s determination to capitalise on shifts in demand from Chinese customers, who are making their country the quickest adopter of electric power. (Relate: New Volvo dealership for John Clark Motor Group)
Government officials in China are drawing up plans for 20% of the country’s new cars being powered by alternative fuel by 2025; that equates to around seven million units per year.
According to Volvo, the Swedish car maker plans to introduce an electrified version of every model in its line-up from 2019. Every Volvo will be offered with a mild hybrid, hybrid or battery-electric powertrain option.
Next year the company will unveil its first fully electric car, a hatchback. Volvo has also pledged it won’t launch any more all-new models until it has offered electrified versions of its existing range.
“Last year we made a commitment to electrification in preparation for an era beyond the internal combustion engine,” Håkan Samuelsson, President and CEO of Volvo Cars, said. “Today we reinforce and expand that commitment in the world’s leading market for electrified cars. China’s electric future is Volvo Cars’ electric future.”
With more than 100,000 of its cars selling there last year, China is Volvo’s biggest market.
Volvo currently produces the S90 and S90L T8 Twin Engine in China. This week marks the start of production for the XC60 T8 Twin Engine in China, meaning that soon all three Volvo Cars China plants — Luqiao, Chengdu and Daqing — will produce either plug-in hybrid or battery electric cars.
Related: Volvo XC40 wins Euro Car of the Year
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Jim McGill