Volvo Officially Says Goodbye to Diesel Engines

Lines of Volvo SUVs. (Doc. Volvo Cars)]

JAKARTA - Volvo, a Swedish automotive manufacturer known for its reputation for safety and innovation, has announced a bold decision to end production of diesel-engined cars early next year.

This step was taken to provide greater space for electrified models and to detail their strategy in facing the electric vehicle (EV) era.

This decision is in the spotlight considering that most of Volvo's competitors will continue to produce diesel-engined vehicles in the next few years. However, Volvo has reiterated its commitment to moving forward in EVs and stopped combustion engine development last year, with all internal combustion engine (ICE) engine development assets sold to Aurobay.

Jim Rowan, CEO of Volvo Cars, expressed his belief that the future belongs to electric cars. According to him, EVs are superior in various aspects, including reducing noise, vibration, service costs for consumers, and of course, zero emissions from the tailpipe.

"We are fully focused on creating a broad portfolio of premium, fully electric cars that will provide everything our customers expect from the Volvo brand. This is an important part of our response to global climate change," Rowan said in a statement on the official Volvo Cars website, Tuesday, September 19.

This decision not only reflects the rapid acceleration in the development of the global automotive industry, but also responds to growing consumer demand for electric vehicles. This is also in line with increasingly stringent emissions regulations and the company's commitment to focus on electrification.

The majority of Volvo sales in Europe currently consist of electric cars, either in the form of pure electric or plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrains, replacing the long-standing dominance of diesel engines in the market.

Volvo, with its base in Gothenburg, Sweden, also plans to strengthen its electric vehicle lineup by launching new models such as the EX90, EX30 and its first electric MPV, the EM90, in the hope of increasing sales of Volvo's environmentally friendly vehicles.

Along with many other automotive manufacturers, Volvo has ambitious plans to sell more electric vehicle models with the aim of achieving the target of selling only electric vehicles by 2030.