When Volvo unveiled the EX90 last month, a much smaller electric crossover was teased right at the end of the live event. At the time, most journalists assumed it would be called “EX30”, which has now been confirmed by the company’s CEO. Talk with European Automotive NewsJim Rowan admits the tiny EV will take on this moniker once it launches sometime in 2023. He goes on to mention it will be manufactured in China.
The Geely-owned automaker projects the EX30 will play a “big role” in achieving its ambitious target of increasing sales by more than 70 percent by 2025. Volvo wants to deliver 1.2 million cars annually by the middle of the decade, according to a former Dyson executive. He believes China’s Chengdu, Daqing, and Taizhou factories will be “quite busy” assembling entry-level electric crossovers.
Speculative renders of the 2024 Volvo EX30 based on teaser images
Jim Rowan told ANE the typical 18 or 19 year old customer buys their first car at “the right price point plus the flexibility, insurance and roadside assistance offered by Care by Volvo”. To make it more accessible, the EX30 will be offered with a subscription plan that requires a minimum commitment of three months. Company officials believe people will keep their vehicles longer.
When asked if Sweden was interested in leasing or swapping the batteries to lower the asking price, the CEO ruled it out due to safety concerns. Since the battery pack plays a major role in the event of an accident, Volvo doesn’t want to take any chances. He went on to say that frequently inserting and removing batteries could be dangerous considering how powerful they are.
At the other end of the lineup, the XC90 isn’t going anywhere. Even though the new all-electric EX90 is taking on the flagship role, Jim Rowan says a combustion-engined SUV still makes sense in certain markets where charging infrastructure isn’t ready. He explained that EV adoption in the inner regions of the United States and China is taking longer than in coastal areas. As a result, “the XC90 will remain within reach for a while.”
Back in February, former Volvo CEO Hakan Samuelsson said the model would not only continue but even receive cosmetic revisions. For a luxury SUV that has been in its second iteration since 2015, the XC90 has aged gracefully and doesn’t look out of date in our opinion when compared to newer vehicles from the same segment.
