Volvo Starts Production of Its Most Important SUV in Years

Volvo has officially started production of the new EX60, an electric SUV that will rival the BMW iX3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class. This is a key product for Volvo, since the gas-powered XC60 became its best-selling car ever last year. Similar in size but with more advanced technologies, the company hopes the EX60 will achieve a similar level of success in the EV segment. Initial orders in Europe have been strong, which is why Volvo has already increased production plans for the SUV this year.

EX60 Must Succeed in U.S.

In the first quarter of 2026, Volvo sales dropped by 32% in the U.S., with the company’s entire lineup seeing declines. The numbers were not helped by the fact that Volvo has discontinued its sedan and wagon range in this market. Expected to be keenly priced when it arrives, the EX60 will be an important addition to Volvo’s range.

“Today is an important milestone for our company and for Sweden as a whole, as we start to build the first EX60 customer cars,” said Håkan Samuelsson, Volvo Cars CEO. “We are now focused on a steady ramp-up of high-quality EX60 production, making sure this game-changing car will be a profitable growth driver in the coming years.”

Initial demand has been especially strong in Europe, which is why the company is keeping its Torslanda plant in Sweden open for an extra week this summer—the first time it has done so. For U.S. and Asian customers, order books will be opening later this spring.

Volvo EX60 Key Specs

The EX60 is styled to closely resemble the larger, three-row EX90. It’s a classy SUV with more restrained details than its somewhat controversial German rivals. Three variants were announced at launch:

• P6 with 369 horsepower (single motor)
• P10 with 510 horsepower (dual motors)
• P12 with 670 horsepower (dual motors)

Depending on the trim, the EX60 has a claimed range of between 290 and 400 miles, with gradually bigger battery packs as you work your way through the trims. A NACS-style charging port will allow for easy access to the Tesla Supercharger network, and charging speeds of up to 400 kW are possible. This can add 173 miles of range in just 10 minutes.

Something to watch closely will be the stability of the EX60’s software and infotainment interface. This is something Volvo struggled with when the EX90 was launched, with many owners left frustrated by glitchy screens and features that refused to work reliably. Volvo can’t afford the same setback with the EX60.

Related: New Volvo EX60 Will Feature A Seatbelt That Thinks

Final Thoughts

Volvo’s EV sales are down 14% to start the year, so the EX60 can’t come soon enough. It will plug a gap between the smaller EX30 (which is being discontinued) and the larger EX90. This is a sweet spot in the luxury EV market, where models are less vulnerable to tariffs but more attainable than full-size options. Besides the BMW and Mercedes, the EX60 will also compete against the Cadillac Optiq and Audi Q6 e-tron. It’s fast emerging as a highly competitive segment, but the Volvo’s specs suggest it has what it takes to succeed.

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