Tag Archives: Volvo

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Volvo Doubles Down on South Carolina, Bets Big on Ridgeville Plant’s Future

Volvo Cars is putting more weight behind its American operations. The Swedish automaker announced continued investment in its Ridgeville, South Carolina, assembly plant, with the long-term goal of running the facility at full tilt. The move underscores Volvo’s growing reliance on the U.S. market as it reshapes its global manufacturing footprint.

The Ridgeville factory, located just outside Charleston, is no stranger to big numbers. Volvo has poured roughly $1.3 billion into the site over the past decade, equipping it to build multiple models and powertrains on flexible platforms. With an annual installed capacity of 150,000 units, the plant has plenty of room to grow.

For now, Ridgeville churns out the fully electric Volvo EX90 SUV and its performance cousin, the Polestar 3. But that’s only the beginning. In late 2026, the company’s best-seller—the XC60 mid-size SUV—will roll off the South Carolina line for the first time. The timing makes sense: Volvo moved more than 27,000 XC60s in the U.S. through the first eight months of 2025, nearly 20 percent better than a year ago.

“By adding another model into production here, we’ll take a big step toward realising the full potential of our local manufacturing investments and workforce,” said Luis Rezende, Volvo’s president of Americas.

The XC60 is just one piece of the puzzle. Before the end of the decade, Ridgeville will also welcome a next-generation hybrid tailored to U.S. buyers—part of Volvo’s push to regionalize its lineup. The strategy aims to ensure every major market gets vehicles designed around its own priorities, whether that’s electrification, size, or feature mix.

South Carolina officials are more than happy to see the automaker expand its local footprint. “Volvo Cars’ decision to further invest in Ridgeville reinforces South Carolina’s position as a national leader in automotive manufacturing,” said Governor Henry McMaster, praising the strength of the state’s workforce.

Volvo, meanwhile, has reason to stay committed. This year marks 70 years of selling cars in America, with over 5 million delivered since the brand first set up shop stateside. “Our investment plans once again reinforce our long-term commitment to the U.S. market and our manufacturing operations in South Carolina,” said CEO Håkan Samuelsson.

With electrification reshaping the auto industry and U.S. sales still trending upward, Ridgeville looks poised to become the beating heart of Volvo’s American ambitions.

Source: Volvo

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Volvo Begins Production of ES90, Its First 800-Volt Electric Sedan

Volvo’s march toward an all-electric lineup just hit its biggest stride yet. Production of the brand-new Volvo ES90 has officially begun for European markets, marking a turning point for the Swedish automaker as it pushes toward a fully electrified future.

The ES90 isn’t just another electric sedan—it’s Volvo’s first model built on an 800-volt architecture, which allows for both longer driving ranges and significantly faster charging than any electric Volvo before. For buyers who’ve grown impatient with slow charging times, this could be the breakthrough they’ve been waiting for.

From the outside, the ES90 leans into what Volvo does best: Scandinavian minimalism wrapped in modern elegance. But this isn’t your typical three-box sedan. Instead, it blends sedan refinement with fastback adaptability and even SUV-like ground clearance, creating a sort of all-in-one design that aims to sidestep traditional compromises. Think executive comfort without the low-slung inconvenience.

Inside, the ES90 continues Volvo’s focus on safety-first, tech-forward design. The cabin runs on a next-gen core computing system built on Volvo’s Superset tech stack, giving it the ability to evolve through continuous over-the-air updates. In theory, the car you buy today should be smarter—and possibly safer—three years from now.

Safety, naturally, remains the anchor point. Volvo has built its reputation around it, and the ES90 is no exception, layering in the brand’s latest active and passive systems. But there’s also an increasing emphasis on sustainability. Produced at Volvo’s climate-neutral Chengdu plant, the ES90 carries one of the lowest carbon footprints of any Volvo yet, according to the company’s recent Life Cycle Assessment.

Francesca Gamboni, Volvo’s chief industrial operations officer, framed it this way: “The fully electric ES90 marks a major milestone as Volvo Cars steps into a new era of safety, sustainability and human-centric technology.”

Volvo opened order books for the ES90 earlier this year, with customer deliveries expected before the end of 2025 in Europe. Key Asia Pacific markets will follow shortly after.

The ES90 represents more than a single new model—it’s a litmus test for Volvo’s ability to deliver an EV that doesn’t just check the boxes but redefines how versatile an electric luxury car can be. By bridging sedan sophistication, fastback utility, and SUV practicality, the ES90 is betting that buyers no longer want to pick a lane.

Whether that gamble pays off depends on real-world range, charging network compatibility, and how well Volvo balances all that promised versatility. But one thing is certain: with the ES90, Volvo isn’t just building another EV. It’s building a manifesto.

Source: Volvo

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Goodbye, Big Boxy Swede: Volvo Pulls the Plug on the V90

Pour one out for the long-roof loyalists: Volvo has confirmed production of the V90 estate will wrap up in September. Yes, the big Swedish wagon that made middle-class practicality look like a designer lifestyle choice is about to disappear, and this time it might actually be forever.

Volvo insists the move is “in accordance” with its “global cycle plan” — which, translated from carmaker PR, roughly means SUVs make more money, and you lot keep buying them. The axe already fell on the related S90 saloon last year, clearing the runway for the upcoming all-electric ES90 liftback. That car lands in the UK early next year, and while it’s got the raised ride height and hatchback boot to sort of cover estate duties, it’s not quite the same thing as a proper longroof.

Ex-CEO Jim Rowan made the shift pretty clear when asked if Volvo was done with estates entirely: “Yeah, because I think it’s changed, right? SUVs have changed with ride height.” Translation: stop asking about wagons, people — the world’s moved on.

Rowan went further, suggesting the V90’s replacement is already hiding in plain sight. The XC60 SUV could be nudged into filling the void, with Volvo experimenting with “Black Edition” and “Cross Country” trims to appeal to the wagon diehards. Think of it as repackaging the same IKEA flat-pack practicality into a taller box.

Still, not all is lost. The smaller V60 will keep soldiering on, and Volvo UK says it’ll remain available to order. And if you’re desperate for a V90, your best bet is to start sweet-talking your local dealer and raid whatever stock is left.

It’s a bittersweet moment, really. Volvo wagons have always been more than just cars: they’re cultural icons, family haulers that carried everything from golden retrievers to flat-pack furniture without ever breaking a sweat. The V90 was peak wagon — elegant, huge, effortlessly cool in a low-key Swedish way.

Now, with the SUV tide showing no sign of retreating, we might have just seen the last true Volvo estate disappear into history.

Boxy may not be sexy anymore. But for some of us, it’ll always be brilliant.

Source: Autocar