Volvo is standing by their plans to do it all electrical system at the end of this decade, but the automaker's boss still supports the planned release of European sales of internal combustion vehicles during the next decade.
Volvo and 49 other companies have recently signed a declaration urging the European Union not to change the deadline, which will see new cars with petrol or diesel engines. successfully banned in member countries by 2035. That plan includes a loophole on synthetic fuels, however, internal combustion vehicles can still be sold if those fuels can be produced at scale and meet the standards.
2025 Volvo EX40 (Europe spec)
“Electrification is the single biggest step our industry can take to reduce its carbon footprint,” Volvo Cars CEO Jim Rowan said of the EU plan. Rivian also signed the declaration, but other major car manufacturers did not, according to Bloomberg, noting that other signatories include companies outside of car manufacturing such as Ikea and Uber.
The EU plan has been challenged several times since it was first announced in 2021. Germany successfully lobbied for an oil loophole to be implemented by 2023, and Italian officials recently. called the plan “absurd,” who argue that the tightening of emission standards leading to internal fire resistance should be reduced to address changing market conditions.
2025 Volvo EX30 electric SUV (dual-motor, Vapor Grey)
Last month Volvo he backed away from the goalannounced in 2021, will be an all-electric model by 2030. Volvo now expects 90% of its vehicles to be EVs or plug-in hybrids by then, with the remaining 10% to have mild-hybrid powertrains.
Volvo COO Björn Annwall told Green Car Reports that the automaker is ready end of sale of petrol models however there is still a need, and those plug-in hybrids will evolve to offer more electric range with smaller engines.