Volvo today announced that every model it launches from 2019 will have an electric motor, marking the historic end of cars that only have an internal combustion engine (ICE) and placing electrification at the core of its future business.
The announcement represents one of the most significant moves by any car maker to embrace electrification and highlights how over a century after the invention of the internal combustion engine electrification is paving the way for a new chapter in automotive history.
“This is about the customer,” said Håkan Samuelsson, president and chief executive. “People increasingly demand electrified cars and we want to respond to our customers’ current and future needs. You can now pick and choose whichever electrified Volvo you wish.”
Volvo will introduce a portfolio of electrified cars across its model range that consist of fully electric cars, plug in hybrid cars and mild hybrid cars.
The company will launch 5 fully electric cars between 2019 and 2021, 3 of which will be Volvo models and 2 of which will be high performance electrified cars from Polestar. These 5 cars will be supplemented by a range of petrol and diesel plug in hybrid and mild hybrid 48 volt options on all models.
This means that there will in future be no Volvo cars without an electric motor, as pure ICE cars are gradually phased out and replaced by ICE cars that are enhanced with electrified options.
“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’s first fully electric car will be assembled in China. The all-new model will be based on Volvo’s Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) designed for smaller cars and will be exported around the globe.
XC90 T8 R-design 
The new Volvo XC60 
The new Volvo XC60 – T8 powertrain 
Volvo Cars’ T8 Twin Engine Range 
Still from animation – Mild hybrid, 48 volts 
Still from animation – Plug-in hybrid, Twin Engine 
Still from animation – Battery electric, Pure
