The confirmation that Volvo will end diesel powertrain production by 2024 was made at Climate Week NYC in New York – and marks a rapid transformation. As recently as 2019 – the year Volvo launched the XC40 Recharge as its first EV – the majority of Volvo models sold in Europe were powered by diesel.
Diesel sales in Europe have slumped since then, a decline led by changing customer tastes due to concerns about both climate change and the greater nitrogen oxide emissions of diesel engines, a particularly problem in urban areas. Company boss Jim Rowan said that “electric powertrains are our future”, claiming that the firm is “fully focused on creating a broad portfolio of premium, fully electric cars that deliver on everything our customers expect from a Volvo”.