Volvo to end production of diesel cars by 2024

MANILA: Volvo Cars announced that it will end the production of all its diesel-powered vehicles by early 2024.

The said initiative, bared at Climate Week NYC, is in line with its plans to sell only fully electric cars by 2030 and be a climate neutral company by 2024.

In 2022, Volvo made its decision to discontinue working on new combustion engines. In November, the company sold its stake in Aurobay, the joint venture that housed all its remaining assets related to combustion engines.

“Electric powertrains are our future, and superior to combustion engines: they generate less noise, less vibration, less servicing costs for our customers and zero tailpipe emissions. We’re fully focused on creating a broad portfolio of premium, fully electric cars that deliver on everything our customers expect from a Volvo — and are a key part of our response to climate change,” Volvo Cars Chief Executive Officer Jim Rowan stated.

According to Volvo, its plan to totally phase out diesel models by early 2024 demonstrates how rapidly the automotive industry and consumer demand are shifting in response to the climate crisis.

Four years ago, the diesel engine was the backbone of most automakers. In 2019, diesel models accounted for the majority of Volvo's sales, with electric vehicles just starting to gain traction.

Since then, the trend has largely reversed itself due to changing market demand, stricter emission regulations, and Volvo’s focus on electrification.

Volvo noted that less diesel cars help improve urban air quality since they produce more nitrogen oxide and other pollutants that are harmful to the environment, especially in densely populated areas.

Photos from Volvo Cars

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