【AI前沿】Volvo teases a new affordable EV to replace discontinued EX30

TransportationNewsCarsVolvo teases a new affordable EV to replace discontinued EX30The new EV won’t be the same price as the EX30, which was supposed to start at $35,000, but ended up being much more than that thanks to tariffs.The new EV won’t be the same price as the EX30, which was supposed to start at $35,000, but ended up being much more than that thanks to tariffs.byAndrew J. HawkinsMay 18, 2026, 8:41 PM UTCLinkShareGiftImage: VolvoPart OfThe great EV pullback: all the obstacles, cancellations, and delayssee all updatesAndrew J. Hawkinsis transportation editor with 10+ years of experience who covers EVs, public transportation, and aviation. His work has appeared in The New York Daily News and City & State.Volvo’s compact, quirky EX30 had a lot of problems when it was first released. Tariffs essentially erased its affordability, making it more expensive to own, and a battery recall made it dangerous to park indoors. Butits discontinuationdidn’t spell the end of Volvo’s efforts to sell more affordable electric models. In fact, the Swedish automaker is already at work on a new offering for the US market.The news of an affordable Volvo EV for the US came during a media roundtable this week related tothe US launch of the new EX60. Luis Rezende, president of Volvo Cars America, said that the decision to discontinue the EX30 was not solely about tariffs and profitability, noting that the company is preparing to introduce a new EV in 2027 that will occupy a similar role in the lineup — though not necessarily at exactly the same price point as the EX30.“Very similar, I would say,” Rezende said about the mystery EV’s price comparison to the EX30. “It’s going to be an EV that will deliver a lot of good things in a bigger space, but it will be also fun to drive, I can promise you.”Other than that, details were scarce. Volvo’s executives talked later about the desire to build a larger, family-oriented SUV at its factory in Charleston, South Carolina — though that vehicle will likely use a “multi-fuel” strategy rather than being exclusively electric from launch.The EX60, which will start customer deliveries in the US this summer, is Volvo’s attempt at a reset in the US. The compact SUV, which is built on a different architecture than the EX30, will start at $59,795 for the entry-level P6 Plus version, and climbs up to $68,745 for the more powerful P10 AWD Ultra variant.Volvo is the latest automaker to try, and stumble, in its efforts to build an affordable EV for the US market that is both desirable and profitable for the company. To date, few have pulled it off, as it requires a certain level of scale, vertical integration, and mastery of the supply chain that only companies in China seem to have really nailed down. Of course, Volvo is owned by China’s Geely, but the company’s desire to sell EVs in North America will necessitate a different approach to affordability.Affordability was one of the EX30’s main selling points. When it wasfirst announcedin 2023, Volvo said the price would start at $34,950, positioning it as the smaller, less expensive EV that many people were clamoring for. But after the election of Donald Trump,Volvo was forced to delay the EX30’s arrival in the USuntil 2025, citingnewly leveled tariffsagainst vehicles built in China. Eventually, the model that went on sale in the US started at $44,900, about $10,000 more than the original price.Then, in February, further bad news as Volvo issued a recall for the EX30 because the vehicles’ batteries were at risk of overheating or catching on fire. The next month, Volvo pulled the plug on the vehicle in the US.Correction May 18th:A previous version of this story stated that the EX60 is the only Volvo EV in the US. The EX90 is also available.Follow topics and authorsfrom this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Andrew J. HawkinsCarsElectric CarsNewsTransportationVolvoMore in:The great EV pullback: all the obstacles, cancellations, and delaysHonda’s hybrid future starts with new Accord and RDX prototypesStevie BonifieldMay 14Mazda delays its first EV by two years.Andrew J. HawkinsMay 12Ford’s EV and software chief Doug Field is leaving the companyAndrew J. HawkinsApr 15Most PopularMost PopularBad, Bad, Bad, Bad RoommateDisco Elysium’s spiritual successor can’t escape its phantomsElon Musk loses his case against Sam AltmanMicrosoft is retiring Teams’ Together ModeMusk v. Altman proved that AI is led by the wrong peopleThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to ourTermsandPrivacy Notice.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the GooglePrivacy PolicyandTerms of Serviceapply.Advertiser Content FromThis is the title for the native ad