Volvo Cars is preparing to launch 13 new electric and plug-in hybrid cars before the end of 2030 as part of what the company describes as the biggest global product expansion in its 99-year history. The company says the upcoming models will introduce new exterior and interior designs in an effort to double its market share by the end of the decade.
Håkan Samuelsson, CEO and president of Volvo Cars, said during a strategy update that the company’s showrooms “will look very different” in 2030. The announcement is less a reveal of a single production model than an outline of the company’s direction in the coming years, with a simultaneous focus on fully electric cars and the third generation of plug-in hybrid vehicles.
A Different Strategy for the West and China
Volvo is dividing its new plan into two regional paths. The company will develop seven cars aimed at Western markets, including the United States and Europe, versus six cars intended for China. The separation between the two regions is not limited to product design, as Volvo will use a different technology system for each market.
In the United States and Europe, the company will rely on the HuginCore computing platform and the SPA2 and SPA3 architectures. In China, it will use shared Geely platforms and a dedicated technology system. This approach reflects an attempt to tailor the cars to differences between markets rather than offer a globally unified lineup based on the same technical architecture.
New Design and Physical Buttons in the Cabin
Thomas Ingenlath, Volvo Cars’ head of design, said product appeal is a key factor in the company’s financial success and linked brand strength to the ability to command premium prices. Volvo will initially present the new design through a concept car in spring 2027, coinciding with its celebration of the 100th anniversary of its founding.
The company says the design will build on its Scandinavian identity, while Ingenlath hinted at the return of physical buttons to the cabin. However, he explained that this would not mean adding long rows of buttons, but rather designing control elements with different shapes and methods of interaction. Volvo has not yet disclosed the appearance or functions of this interface in detail.
What Is Changing in Practice?
Volvo has already begun implementing part of the plan by introducing the new XC60 and XC90, the company’s first long-range plug-in hybrid models. Production of both is scheduled to begin later in fall 2026, with customer deliveries set to begin in early 2027.
The new hybrid models will be sold alongside the EX60, Volvo’s first electric car built on the SPA3 platform, which will offer a longer driving range and faster charging, with multiple body-style options including wagons and sedans. The company also plans, according to a recent report from Automotive News, to replace the EX40 in the United States with a new entry-level electric SUV before the end of 2027. The vehicle is expected to be called the EX50 and to start at around $50,000, while also using the SPA3 platform.
The importance of the plan lies not only in the number of models, but in Volvo’s shift to a strategy combining different platforms, market-specific products and a user experience that restores some physical controls. However, most details concerning the 13 cars, their final prices and their launch dates outside the models mentioned remain undisclosed, so the announcement remains more of a strategic framework than a complete launch schedule.