Volvo Cars is rebranding its EVs to demarcate them from ICE models in a move the company says is in line with its ongoing transformation towards becoming a fully electric car maker by 2030.
The update includes the removal of Recharge badging from the company's plug-in hybrid models, which will now be denoted simply by the T6 or T8 suffix, with the suffix indicating different levels of power output.
Sign up for EV inFocus
EV inFocus: Hard news for the corporate e-mobility sector
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
The move will also see the OEM retroactively rebrand its existing EVs. The XC40 Recharge and C40 Recharge models are renamed to EX40 and EC40 respectively, with the company saying the models "now seamlessly fit in with our other fully electric models: the EX30, EX90 and EM90."
The company also says the XC40 name will remain for ICE-powered variants of the model.
“By aligning our trailblazing first electric models with the rest of our electric car portfolio, we simplify choice for consumers as we continue to electrify our line-up and refresh our hybrids,” says Volvo Group deputy CEO Björn Annwall.
All-electric vehicles made up 16pc of Volvo's sales in 2023, an increase of 70pc over 2022. With the upcoming release of the EX30, EX90, and EM90, the firm will soon have five BEV models on sale.
Volvo is perhaps the most committed of the legacy automakers in the switch to BEVs. The firm has a 50pc all-electric sales target for 2025. BEV sales already above 50pc of the sales mix in six national markets globally.
Ciaran has written about finance, politics and culture. He is passionate about e-mobility and what it means for our way of life.
Ciaran has a Masters in Ancient Philosophy from Oxford University.
