Volvo to end diesel production in early 2024

Volvo will end production of diesel-engined cars in early 2024, as it ramps up its plans to become an electric-only brand by 2030.

The Swedish company quietly ditched the last of its diesel models from its UK line-up at the start of this month, with only full-electric, plug-in hybrid and mild-hybrid petrol models now on sale here. But it currently still sells diesel powertrains in other markets. It will stop offering those models, making it the first major ‘legacy’ manufacturer to entirely ditch diesels.

Volvo has long signalled its intent to axe diesel models and previously spun off its combustion engine development business into a company called Aurobay, a joint venture with Chinese parent firm Geely. Volvo then sold its stake in Aurobay late last year and says it will no longer spend “a single krona” of its budget on the development of new combustion engines.

The confirmation that Volvo will end diesel powertrain production by 2024 was made at Climate Week NYC in New York – and marks a rapid transformation. As recently as 2019 – the year Volvo launched the XC40 Recharge as its first EV – the majority of Volvo models sold in Europe were powered by diesel.