Volvo is teasing a new, affordable electric car to replace the discontinued EX30

Volvo’s compact, quirky EX30 had a lot of problems when it was first released. Tariffs wiped out their affordability, making them more expensive to own, and battery recalls made it dangerous to park indoors. but Stop it This did not mark the end of Volvo’s efforts to sell affordable electric models. In fact, the Swedish automaker is already working on a new offering for the US market.

News of an affordable Volvo EV for the US came during a media roundtable this week related to US launch of the new EX60. Louis Rezende, president of Volvo Cars of America, said the decision to discontinue the EX30 wasn’t just about tariffs and profitability, noting that the company is preparing to introduce a new electric vehicle in 2027 that will fill a similar role in the lineup — but not necessarily at quite the same price point as the EX30.

“Very similar,” Rezende said of the vague electric car’s price comparison with the EX30. “It will be an electric car that will offer a lot of good things in a larger space, but it will also be fun to drive, I can promise you that.”

Other than that, details were scarce. Volvo executives later talked about wanting to build a larger, family-oriented SUV at its plant in Charleston, South Carolina — although that vehicle would likely use a “multi-fuel” strategy rather than being exclusively electric from launch.

The EX60, which will begin U.S. customer deliveries this summer, is Volvo’s only electric vehicle in North America. The compact SUV, which is built on a different architecture from the EX30, will start at $59,795 for the entry-level P6 Plus version, rising 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 electric car for the American market that would be both desirable and profitable for the company. So far, only a few have succeeded in achieving this, because it requires a certain level of scale, vertical integration, and mastery in the supply chain, which only companies in China seem to have actually achieved. Of course, Volvo is owned by China’s Geely, but the company’s desire to sell electric cars in North America will necessitate a different approach to affordability.

Affordability was one of the EX30’s main selling points. When it was Announced for the first time In 2023, Volvo said pricing will start at $34,950, making it the smallest and most affordable electric car many people are clamoring for. But after the election of Donald Trump. Volvo had to delay the EX30’s arrival in the United States Until 2025, quoted from Newly flat tariffs Against vehicles manufactured in China. Ultimately, the model that went on sale in the US started at $44,900, about $10,000 more than the original price.

Then, in February, more bad news came when Volvo issued a recall of the EX30 because the vehicles’ batteries were at risk of overheating or catching fire. The following month, Volvo discontinued the entire car program.