Volvo Cars is to build its new fully electric EX30 model at its Ghent plant in Belgium from 2025, expanding production capacity for the small SUV.
Production of the EX30 started earlier this autumn in Zhangjiakou, China, and the first cars are scheduled to reach customers later this year.
The decision to also build the EX30 in Ghent boosts production capacity for the expected EX30 demand in Europe as well as for global export, and reflects Volvo Cars’ ambition to build its vehicles where it sells them as much as possible.
It also adds production flexibility for what the company expects to be one of its best-selling models in the coming years.
Joining the XC40 and C40 models on the Ghent production line, the EX30 is the third fully electric Volvo model to be produced in Europe.
The EX30 has already won several major awards, including The Sun Car of the Year and the Small SUV/Crossover of the Year award from the Sunday Times.
Volvo Cars plans to sell only fully electric cars by 2030 and, by the middle of this decade, it aims for half of its global sales volume to consist of EVs.
Jim Rowan, Volvo Cars’ Chief Executive said, “Our ambition is to sell the EX30 around the world at an attractive price point, easing the transition to driving an electric Volvo car for more people while also contributing to company.
“Adding production in Ghent is a logical move as we aim to capture the strong demand for our exciting small electric SUV across the globe.”
