Volvo has announced that the new, fully electric Volvo EX30 SUV will make its global debut on 7 June 12:30 BST, with also the option to order or pre-order available in selected markets.
While its much anticipated mega seven-seater EX90 isn’t even out yet, the Swedish company is already looking to make waves by expanding its portfolio of next-generation EVs in the highly competitive compact SUV market.
Volvo has embraced the idea of electric vehicles; the fully-electric version of XC40 came as a result of the massive success of its diesel and petrol and plug-in hybrid variants in 2020 and we can expect more in the coming years.
And not to anyone’s surprise, although a little expensive, the XC40 Recharge proved to be another success as well, impressing us with its minimalist sporty yet Scandi chic looks and smooth and refined drive. Buoyed by its success, Volvo even introduced a smaller, sportier, coupe-crossover version called the C40 Recharge last year with more range and more power.
But back to the future of its smaller SUVs, the yet-to-be-revealed EX30 is the manufacturer’s attempt to entice the younger audience, with Volvo boss Jim Rowan saying that its upcoming small electric ride would be aimed at members of Gen Z.
“Take a smaller SUV, which is more for city driving, maybe for first-time buyers,” Jim Rowan told Top Gear last year. “Gen Z — 18-, 19-year-olds — is our next market. We don’t talk to Gen Z right now, the brand has never really spoken to that younger demographic. We are absolutely heading in that direction.”
The launch video, however, reveals little so far about the upcoming EV, with the car parked away on dunes as a giant hand arises on the twilight horizon from the distance, seemingly proceeding to grab the EX30. Maybe Volvo’s trying to drive home the smaller size, also adding: “Thinking small is one of our biggest ideas,” in its press release.
It will be interesting to see how small the car actually is, given it’s still retaining the SUV shape. Although when it comes out, it will face stiff competition in the compact, two-row electric SUVs which are currently dominating the market — Tesla Model Y, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 5, and Kia EV6 to name a few, with more models like Chevy Equinox and Blazer EVs, Polestar 3, and Honda Prologue also launching soon.
But clearly, Volvo’s leadership seems confident about its prospect, with reports that it will ensure that monthly payments are set at a “reasonably low cost”. The company said: “It’s a car that will be crucial to our strategic ambitions in shaping the future of mobility and becoming a fully electric car maker by 2030.”
