All Volvo Models From 2019 Onwards Will Be Hybrids or EVs

In a historic announcement, Volvo has announced that every model it launches from 2019 onwards will have an electric motor or some form of powertrain electrification.

Volvo’s announcement marks one of the most significant moves by a mainstream carmaker - marking the end of an era (for the company) spanning nearly a century; where cars are solely powered by an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE).

Håkan Samuelsson, President and Chief Executive added, “This is about the customer. People increasingly demand electrified cars and we want to respond to our customers’ current and future needs. You can now pick and choose whichever electrified Volvo you wish”.

Under the company’s plan, all new Volvo cars launched from 2019 onwards will be offered with an electric motor of some sort – either as mild-hybrids, plug-in hybrids, or full-electric vehicles.

Volvo plans to introduce five full-electric cars between 2019 and 2021, three of which will be Volvo models and two more from Volvo Cars’ high-performance car division, Polestar.

These five cars will be supplemented by a range of petrol and diesel plug-in hybrids and (48 volt) mild-hybrid variants on all models. Volvo believes this will represent one of the broadest electrified car range of any car maker.

Under the new strategy, variants powered by regular petrol and diesel engines will be gradually phased out in the coming years. All current Volvo models are powered by 2.0-litre four-cylinder engines from its Drive-E family.

Volvo plans to sell 1 million cars a year by 2025, and having a comprehensive portfolio of hybrid and EV cars is how it plans to achieve it. The strategy, according to Volvo also underlines the company’s commitment to minimising its environmental impact and reducing the carbon emissions of both its products as well as its operations.

Volvo aims to have climate neutral manufacturing operations by 2025.