√Electric Volvo EX60 mid-size SUV due by 2026 as XC60 successor
Volvo’s best-selling model globally – the XC60 mid-size SUV – is due to be joined by an electric alternative by 2026, as the Swedish car maker prepares to ditch petrol power here and overseas.
An electric successor to the Volvo XC60 mid-size SUV is due in overseas showrooms next year, as Volvo Australia prepares to end sales of petrol-powered cars from 2026.
Volvo confirmed plans 18 months ago for the successor to today’s XC60 – the Chinese-owned Swedish brand’s top seller globally – to go electric, with production due to start in Europe between 2024 and 2026.
The new model – all but confirmed to be badged EX60, in line with the larger EX90 and smaller EX30 SUVs – is planned to initially be sold alongside the current XC60 in overseas markets, as they phase out petrol power.
However, it remains to be seen if this occurs in Australia, where Volvo plans to stop selling petrol models from 2026 – four years earlier than Volvo’s global target.
“We can have the XC60 in parallel with an EX60,” Volvo chief operating officer Bjorn Annwall told Australian media including Drive in Sweden last week.
“So that actually expands our product portfolio in this transition time where … not [every customer] can go fully-electric because you don’t have enough electricity, fast charging and what have you.
“That’s the hedge we’re using in this period between now and 2027 or something, so it gives us a bit of flexibility to play [our model range] slightly different in different countries,” Mr Annwall said.
MORE: Volvo Australia to go electric-only from 2026
When plans were confirmed for the electric Volvo XC60-sized SUV in June 2021, it was indicated production would start between 2024 and 2026 – pending any delays.
If the EX60 launches closer to 2026, it is possible it could become a direct replacement for the petrol XC60 in Australia, which has three years left to live locally.
Few details of the EX60 have been confirmed thus far, however it is planned to be the first Volvo model to benefit from batteries designed in partnership with Swedish company Northvolt.
It is not clear if it would use a shrunken version of the ‘SPA2’ electric-car architecture below the new seven-seat Volvo EX90 – which will sit alongside, and eventually replace the petrol XC90 – or another platform within the group of brands owned by its parent, Chinese car giant Geely.
Meanwhile, Mr Annwall told Australian media Volvo is considering adding a larger car to its model range than the five-metre-long EX90 (above) – lending weight to Chinese reports of plans for a new luxury electric people mover.
“We could talk about even bigger cars. No decision has been made but of course there could be a reason for an even bigger car,” the executive told media.
However, Mr Annwall said Volvo won’t follow in the footsteps of its German luxury-car rivals in offering dozens of models and body styles – and by the time it goes electric-only in Europe in 2030, would instead offer a similar number of cars to its range today.
MORE: Volvo developing an electric people mover – report
“One advantage of Volvo’s quite limited car range means we can handle this transition [to electric cars] quite effectively, because if you have 20 [body sizes and styles] it’s very hard to go up to 40 [when selling petrol cars alongside electric versions],” Mr Annwall said.
“Once that transition is over and we’re back to just electric cars [in 2030], will the car range be much different than it used to be? I don’t think we’re going to be the brand that has many [models], we’re still going to have a fairly concentrated range.
“I’m not sure you’re going to have a wagon, a sedan and an SUV – and coupe version of [the SUV] – for every size. I don’t think that makes sense.”
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