Mar 27, 2024

Dear diesel, it’s time to say goodbye

We proudly announced it to the world at Climate Week NYC in September last year, and now it’s becoming a reality: we've built our last diesel car.

A female sits on the driver seat of a blue Volvo Car at the production line.

Our last diesel car rolled off the production line in Torslanda plant

On a cloudy Thursday in early February, our colleagues in Ghent built their last diesel-powered car, a V60. And just the other day, our plant in Torslanda saw its last XC90 diesel car roll off the production line.


These events mark a huge milestone in our company’s 97-year long history. With this move, we’re taking a big step toward our ambitions of becoming a fully electric car maker, as well as achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.

With this move, we’re taking a big step toward our ambitions of becoming a fully electric car maker, as well as achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.

Goodbye diesel, hello electric


For a long time, our diesel engines were synonymous with reliability and efficiency, and they meant a great deal to us for many decades. Indeed, the success of our diesel cars played a significant role in our evolution into a premium brand.


In recent years, the electric revolution has evolved quicker than most of us could have imagined. And it’s largely propelled by tightening regulations around tailpipe emissions, as well as customer demand in response to the climate crisis and a desire for cleaner urban air. Only five years ago, the diesel engine was our bread and butter in Europe, just like it was for most other car makers. The majority of the cars we sold in Europe in 2019 ran on diesel, while electric models were just starting to gain traction.


Today, most of our sales on the continent are electrified cars. Last year, we increased our sales of fully electric cars by 70 per cent, and our global electric market share by 34 per cent. The figures speak for themselves, underscoring that the all-electric direction we’re now heading toward is the right one to take, and we do so with our flag held high.


While our future indeed is fully electric, our mixed portfolio includes some excellent plug-in and mild hybrid models and will act as a perfect bridge toward that future.


A history of pride


Before we say farewell to our diesel cars, let’s take a walk down memory lane and explore how it all began and unfolded. Here are some key milestones in our diesel history:



What diesel memory holds a special place in your heart?

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