In a world first, Swedish car maker Volvo announced that all its launches from 2019 will have an electric motor.
The move will see Volvo phase out the internal combustion engine invented more than a century ago as the car maker ushers in a new era with electrification at the core of its future business.
The company’s President and Chief Executive, Håkan Samuelsson, described the announcement as ‘one of the most significant moves by any car maker’, adding that electrification was paving the way for a new chapter in automotive history.
“This is about the customer,” Mr Samuelsson said.
“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 plans to introduce a portfolio of electrified cars across its model range, embracing fully electric cars, plug in hybrid cars and mild hybrid cars.
According to the company, five fully electric cars will be launched between 2019 and 2021, three of which will be Volvo models and two of which will be high performance electrified cars from is performance car arm Polestar, which will soon be transformed into a new separately-branded electrified global high performance car company.
Mr Samuelsson said all five cars will be supplemented by a range of petrol and diesel plug in hybrid and mild hybrid 48 volt options.
“This announcement marks the end of the solely combustion engine-powered car,” he remarked.
“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.”
