By Otsile Kadiege

Today Volvo Cars South Africa announced that they are edging closer to their global ambition of transforming into a fully electric car company by 2030.

The updated South African line-up now comprises predominantly all-electric, plug-in hybrid and mild-hybrid options, with the full fleet of freshly improved vehicles being launched this month. These models include Volvo’s first fully electric car, the acclaimed XC40 P8 Recharge, as well as the XC60 T8 Recharge and XC90 T8 Recharge plug-in hybrids. 

The B5- and B6-badged mild-hybrid variants make up the remainder of the XC60 and XC90 line-ups which employ clever Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS). 

Hybrid shift

According to Greg Maruszewski, Managing Director at Volvo Car South Africa, Volvo Car South Africa’s decision to shift its primary focus to hybrid vehicles is based on the belief that this type of powertrain currently represents the ideal solution for the majority of the company’s local customers. With the S90 and V90 Cross Country line-ups now also featuring exclusively mild-hybrid powertrains, the only purely petrol-powered options that remain in Volvo’s local range are the T-badged derivatives in the popular XC40 line-up.

Maruszewski further pointed to not only the world-class safety technology intrinsic to Volvo’s vehicles but also the class-leading connectivity available in various models, including the company’s latest Android-powered infotainment system, which ships complete with built-in Google apps and services.

In global terms, Volvo’s electrified line-up continues its rapid growth, with Recharge models making up 34 percent of the company’s global sales volume in the fourth quarter of 2021 and plug-in hybrids accounting for 28 percent.