Volvo Car Australia in 2023: Double EV sales, smarter tech upgrades

In the first full year of electric vehicle sales, almost 14 per cent of Volvo cars sold in Australia were fully electric, or battery electric vehicles (BEV). This year, Volvo Car Australia aims to more than double that tally.

“We are planning on over 30 per cent of our mix to be BEV in 2023 and having some positive conversations with our factories about getting more units into Australia,” said Managing Director Stephen Connor. “Watch this space.”

Volvo Car Australia actually sold more electric cars than combustion engine vehicles in December: Of 980 vehicles sold, 536 were EVs. Across calendar 2022 the XC40 Recharge (983 cars sold) and recently launched C40 Recharge (491 cars sold) marked the start of Volvo Car Australia’s push to sell only electric vehicles by 2026.

Connor said the shift to EVs would accelerate significantly this year.

“2023 is shaping up to be such an exciting year,” he told I Roll. “We walked into January with 2,500 electric vehicle orders waiting to be delivered. So that will feed through over the first half and beyond – and we will aim to add significantly more orders throughout the year. So in terms of EV sales, what you are seeing from us is now the new normal.”

In 2023, the all-electric XC40 Recharge and C40 Recharge will be joined by a smaller new entrant. While not yet officially named by Volvo Cars, Connor reiterated that the all-electric new model is slated for a 2023 launch in Australia, likely towards the end of the year, ahead of the new 7-seater Volvo EX90 in 2024.

**Retailers: Fully charged**

Alongside electric vehicles, Connor said Volvo Car Australia’s retailer network will increasingly roll out rapid charging infrastructure.

“We have to be truly transformational as a business to achieve our 2026 vision. We have to accelerate our rate of change – and with that comes increased investment in charging across our dealer network.”

**Smarter tech**

Globally and locally, the company is doubling down on software and smarter technology as a cornerstone of its transition to all-electric vehicles, inking deals with Google for its high definition mapping technology and taking full ownership of autonomous driving tech company, Zenseact, detailed elsewhere in this month’s I Roll. https://www.volvocars.com/au/news/technology/2023-jan-autonomus-driving/

While Volvo Car’s global leadership team has indicated that its new vehicles “will all be software-defined”, the carmaker is keen to avoid the risk of ‘subscription fatigue’ by charging for run-of-the-mill software updates and upgrades, as other manufacturers are attempting. Heated seats won’t carry an annual subscription fee, according to Volvo Car Chief Commercial Officer, Björn Annwall. https://www.volvocars.com/au/news/technology/2023-jan-subscription-fatigue/

**Save the date: 15-19 March**

15-19 March 2023 is the Volvo Ocean Lovers Festival at Bondi Beach, NSW – a week-long festival that via entertainment, science and innovation connects all those that want our oceans to thrive. There’s something for all the family – music and films, talks and workshops on how to tackle plastic waste and the latest technology and ideas to help move the needle, food and drink, market stalls, beach cleans, free diving, a ‘trashion’ parade, litter art and lots more.

Find out more here – and be sure to save the date.