It seems that everyone goes after Tesla in the auto industry, with Volvo being the latest brand to jump on the bandwagon by announcing the development of a fully electric car by 2019.
The Swedish company revealed its new strategy which involves the introduction of plug-in hybrid models across its range as well as an all-electric model which is said to offer up to 325 miles of range, featuring fast-charging technology and premium performance on the road. The new model will most likely be an SUV as the Swedes have their eyes on the Tesla Model X and Audi’s upcoming Q6 E-Tron.
The first models to benefit from the new strategy will be the plug-in versions of the upcoming S90 flagship and S60 saloon which are based on the same Scalable Product Architecture we know from the XC90 SUV.
Volvo already offers the XC90 T8 Twin Engine AWD PHEV, which combines 407hp with 49g/km of CO2 and more than but confirms that they will expand their range of plug-in hybrids by introducing front-wheel driven Twin Engine variants. With that said, the company is also developing a new V40 model, based on their new Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) which has been designed to support both plug-in and all-electric powertrains.
“We believe that the time has come for electrified cars to cease being a niche technology and enter the mainstream,” Håkan Samuelsson, President and CEO of Volvo Cars, said. “We are confident that in two years’ time, 10 per cent of Volvo’s global sales will be electrified cars”.
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