Volvo has produced its final ever diesel-engined automobile, accelerating its drive to change into an electric-only model by 2030.
As confirmed by the model, the final diesel rolled off the model’s manufacturing line at its Torslanda plant in Sweden on 26 March.
This brings an finish to Volvo’s 45-year relationship with diesel engines and makes it the primary main ‘legacy’ producer to completely ditch the gasoline kind.
The endling is a blue Volvo XC90 outfitted with a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-pot. The SUV might be displayed on the new World of Volvo museum, on account of open to the general public on 14 April.
As just lately as 2019, nearly all of Volvo vehicles bought in Europe had been powered by diesel. Back in 2008, 95% of XC90 gross sales had been diesel.
Volvo mentioned: “For a very long time, our diesel engines had been synonymous with reliability and effectivity, and so they meant an excellent deal to us for a lot of a long time. Indeed, the success of our diesel vehicles performed a major function in our evolution right into a premium model.
“Only 5 years in the past, the diesel engine was our bread and butter in Europe, similar to it was for many different automobile makers. The majority of the vehicles we bought in Europe in 2019 ran on diesel, whereas electrical fashions had been simply beginning to achieve traction.
“The all-electric direction we’re now heading towards is the right one to take, and we do so with our flag held high.”
Volvo will shift to electric-only automobile manufacturing by 2030, with factories being refitted to accommodate the manufacturing of EVs and battery drivetrains.
It confirmed that it will finish diesel powertrain manufacturing by 2024 in a press release eventually 12 months’s Climate Week occasion in New York.
Boss Jim Rowan beforehand mentioned that “electric powertrains are our future”, claiming that Volvo is “fully focused on creating a broad portfolio of premium, fully electric cars that deliver on everything our customers expect from a Volvo”.
After years of continuous decline, diesel gross sales within the UK have just lately been on the uptick. A 12% rise was reported by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) final December.
Premium manufacturers account for 40% of diesel gross sales in Europe, marking a ten% enhance over their 2015 share.
The best-selling diesel within the UK in 2023 was by far the Land Rover Defender – a key rival to the XC90.
Volvo just lately launched the EX30 electrical crossover and can quickly launch the EX90 electrical SUV as a part of its EV swap, which is itself a part of a wider objective of turning into a climate-neutral firm by 2040.