Volvo waves goodbye to diesel cars after 45 years
The final diesel XC90 has been built ahead of Volvo's switch to an all-electric fleet by 2030
)
The last diesel car rolled off Volvo's production line at its Torslanda factory in Sweden.
This is ahead of its switch to a fully electric line-up, which it aims to achieve by 2030.
Ending a legacy of 45 years, the Volvo diesel is no more, making it the first mainstream car manufacturer to make the switch for good.
After waving goodbye to the diesel engine, Volvo said: "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.
"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 towards is the right one to take, and we do so with our flag held high."
Despite its future from 2030 looking clearly all-electric, Volvo will still continue to make plug-in hybrid and mild-hybrid models as "a perfect bridge towards the future."
)
The brand's first diesel car came out in 1975 and was called the Volvo 244 GL D6. Under the bonnet was a powerful and very efficient unit that holds the title of the world’s first six-cylinder diesel engine for passenger cars.
The final car to roll out of the factory is a 2024 Volvo XC90 powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine, which is astonishing since diesel engines made up 95% of XC90 sales back in 2008.
There are still a few years until 2030, but Volvo has already begun its electric vehicle shift with models such as the C40 Recharge, XC40 Recharge and recently announced EX30 crossover and EX90 SUV – replacing the XC90.
While Volvo may have stopped building new diesel cars, you can still buy used diesel Volvos at cinch, suiting a range of budgets and car types.