As more and more car brands move towards fully electrifying their respective fleets, Volvo has drawn a line in the sand by building its last diesel car.

Volvo revealed its intentions to do so last September at Climate Week NYC, as it wants to become a fully electric car marker and achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. The Swedish company followed through on that promise at its plant in Torslanda, Sweden as the last XC90 diesel car rolled off the production line, marking a big milestone in the brand’s 97-year history.

Volvo referred to the diesel engine five years ago as its “bread and butter” with them being the majority of the cars it sold in Europe. The brand also acknowledged that the “success of our diesel cars played a significant role in our evolution into a premium brand.”

Now Volvo is hoping to continue that premium brand feel in electric form with the recent reveals of the EX90 and EM90. In fact, most of its sales in Europe are electric cars and last year the brand increased its sales of fully electric cars by 70%. The gap between its petrol and electric fleets will be bridged in the meantime with the option of plug-in hybrid and mild-hybrid vehicles.

words: Mike Booth
pictures: Volvo