Volvo to ditch diesel engines for global markets from 2019

Ditching diesels

Volvo Cars have taken a bold step to not develop diesel engines to power its cars. This will come in to effect from 2019 for global markets. This is a part of their electrification strategy. It was announced last month at the 2018 Beijing Auto Show. Volvo aims to bring in 50 per cent of global sales from its electric vehicles by 2025. All cars launched internationally after 2019 will be petrol hybrids, plug-in petrol hybrids or battery operated electric vehicles. This move also underlines the car maker’s commitment towards a sustainable mobility solution beyond the use of conventional IC engines.

The new Volvo S60 will feature petrol hybrid powertrains

The move to do away with diesel powertrains starts with the new S60 sedan. The car will be available with a range of 4-cylinder petrol engines, with an all-electric drive and two petrol plug-in hybrid versions. A mild hybrid variant of the car will also make an appearance next year. The S60 is built on the company’s Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform that also underpins the other 60 and 90 series cars and SUVs in Volvo’s line-up. Production of the new S60 will start this year in September at its facility in South Carolina, USA. It will be the only facility where the new S60 will be made and it will cater to USA as well as other international markets.

Håkan Samuelsson on their departure from diesel engines

On the decision to part with diesel engines, Håkan Samuelsson, president and chief executive of Volvo Cars said, “Our future is electric and we will no longer develop a new generation of diesel engines. We will phase out cars with only an internal combustion engine, with petrol hybrid versions as a transitional option as we move towards full electrification. The new S60 represents the next step in that commitment.”

Recently, Volvo also announced its tie up with Google for further enhancing its Sensus infotainment system.

We have driven the soon to be launched Volvo XC40. Click here for our first impressions of the Swedish carmaker’s take on the premium compact SUV segment.