Volvo Softens on EV-Only Lineup by 2030

• During the Volvo XC90 reveal, Volvo CEO Jim Rowan walked back the brand’s aggressive EV timeline.
  

• Volvo was on target for a fully electric product portfolio by 2030.

• The Swedish automaker also teased the brand’s upcoming ES90 battery-electric sedan.

Joining the growing list of automakers that have walked back their aggressive battery-electric plans, Volvo CEO Jim Rowan said the brand isn’t “dogmatic about our 2030 ambitions.” This comment came before the brand showed off a refreshed XC90 crossover.

After talking about his road trip in the company’s all-electric EX90 crossover, Rowan walked back the company’s ambitious 2030 timeline.

“We understand that many people are not ready or able to fully embrace electric cars right now,” Rowan said. “Maybe that’s because they feel charging infrastructure or the speed of charging isn’t quite there yet. Maybe it’s because they worry about the range. Maybe it’s simply because the thought of changing to electrical propulsion after decades of driving an internal-combustion engine is a big step.”

Rowan framed this pivot away from a 2030 battery-electric lineup as a response to customer demand. Rowan went further and responded to those 2030 goals: “We are not dogmatic about our 2030 ambitions. Most importantly, we provide products that our customers want. We will be ready to go fully electric this decade but if the market, infrastructure, and customer acceptance is not quite there, we can allow that to take a few more years.”

Just like Ford, a company that also recently walked back some EV aspirations and shelved some products, Volvo is putting more effort into hybrid powertrains. That makes sense considering interest in hybrid vehicles is growing, but only time will tell if it’s the right long-term move for Volvo.

However, this thinking is also in line with what we heard from Cadillac earlier this year when brand Vice President John Roth said, bluntly, “EVs and ICE will coexist for a number of years.” It seems like automakers are moving in this direction, while also rolling out battery-electric products.

At the end of this presentation, Volvo made clear it is staying engaged in next-generation mobility, as it showed off the new all-electric ES90 sedan. While the company is sticking with battery-electric machines, it appears that gasoline-burning powertrains might be sticking around a little longer than some initially expected.

Do you think it’s smart that Volvo is moving away from its 2030 target? Tell us your thoughts below.