Volvo discontinued the S60/V60 and S90/V90 models from its UK lineup, effectively ending sales of sedans and wagon models in the UK. The automaker’s SUV-only range now comprises the XC40, C40, XC60, and XC90, with the entry-level EX30 and flagship EX90 EVs set to join in the future.
The demise of Volvo’s low-slung models from the UK started with the S90 sedan which was discontinued earlier this summer alongside the V60 and V90 Cross Country estates. At the time, Volvo’s UK arm assured everyone there were no immediate plans for axing the regular V60 and V90, but the automaker changed its mind. As for the S60 sedan, it was on-and-off since last year due to issues with production in the South Carolina plant in the US and is now officially dead in the UK.
More: Volvo Working On New S60 And S90 Electric Sedans, Says Report
Autocar got a statement from Volvo that explained the rationale behind the decision to go SUV-only in the UK market: “We continue to rapidly transform our product offer, which means not only moving towards full electrification but also shifting to new platforms and technologies across all our cars. We will naturally need to evolve and consolidate our line-up as we prioritize fully electric cars and make this technological transition. As a result, we have removed further models from the UK line-up. These include the S60, V60, and V90. Demand for our existing SUV line-up continues to grow, while interest in our forthcoming fully electric EX30 and EX90 models is strong. Meanwhile, appetite for our saloon and estate models has fallen to very low levels in the UK, which has led to our decision to remove these models from sale in the UK.”
UK sales of Volvo sedans and estates were significantly lower compared to its popular SUVs. More specifically in the first half of 2023, Volvo sold around 23,000 units of the S90, 18,000 units of the S60, 16,000 units of the V60, and only 7,100 units of the V90. For comparison, Volvo’s UK bestseller – the aging XC60 SUV – sold 106,000 units in the same period, which is more than the combined sales of all sedan and estate models.
British buyers who are still interested in Volvo sedans and estates might not be able to find them on the official configurator anymore, but they can still get one from the remaining stock. It is not clear if and when Volvo sedan and wagon models will make a return to the UK’s order books, but the automaker has pledged to keep them alive in its future range. High-ranked officials all but confirmed the development of an electric wagon, while insider sources suggest that the automaker is already working on EV successors for both the S60 and S90 sedans. Volvo will go EV-only by 2030, which means that all of its upcoming models will come with a zero-emission powertrain.
