Volvo Cars just announced that all Volvos from 2019 onwards will feature an electric motor, placing electrification at the core of its future business. Pure ICE cars will be gradually phased out and replaced by ICE cars that are enhanced with electrified options.
In a press release, Volvo stated that it plans to discontinue gas-only cars, embracing fully electric cars, plug in hybrid cars and mild hybrid cars in the new portfolio of electrified cars across its model range. It's a bold and quite historic move for any car maker, and also a clear sign of where the future of automotive industry is heading.
The first five fully electric cars will be launched between 2019 and 2021, including three Volvo models and two high performance electrified cars from Polestar, Volvo Cars' performance car arm.
"This announcement marks the end of the solely combustion engine-powered car," said Mr Samuelsson. "Volvo Cars has stated that it plans to have sold a total of 1m electrified cars by 2025. When we said it we meant it. This is how we are going to do it."
Volvo Cars' commitment to minimising its environmental impact and making the cities of the future cleaner is mirrored in the company's goals to reduce the carbon emissions and to have climate neutral manufacturing operations by 2025.