#volvo

#volvo

The transition to software-defined vehicles hasn't been easy for anybody. But in a sea of struggling companies, Volvo is among the most bruised. Its all-electric EX30 and EX90 were heavily delayed by software issues, yet still arrived buggy and unfinished, forcing Volvo to spend much of last year quashing bugs over-the-air. Screens were glitchy, the keyless entry systems often failed, and in a few harrowing cases, the vehicle lost power on the highway.

The threat of tariffs is prompting a number of overseas automakers to tout the extent of their investment in the U.S., with Hyundai's big investment earlier in the year being a particularly high-profile example. (Albeit with some more recent complications.) But they aren't the only foreign marque with manufacturing operations in the U.S., and this month Volvo offered some hints as to what we can expect from their facility in Ridgeville, South Carolina.

As it struggles with declining sales and an uncertain regulatory environment, Volvo is hoping to realign its fortunes by overhauling its electric vehicle plans. And a big part of that is a bet on hybrid technology - or more specifically, extended-range electric vehicles (EREV). At a factory tour in Ridgeville, South Carolina, Volvo made a series of announcements, including an updated EX90 SUV with an Nvidia-supplied computer and the start of production on the gas-powered XC60. But chief among them was the news that the automaker would begin production of an unnamed EREV, developed specifically for the US market.

Volvo recorded its fifth consecutive drop in global sales in July with 49,273 cars sold, marking a 14% decrease year-over-year.

The XC60 and XC90 can be fitted with 360-degree bulletproofing from the factory, allowing them to withstand up to 300 bullets, ensuring heightened safety.

Volvo has transitioned the name of its XC60 plug-in hybrid from Recharge to T8, but both titles fail to fully represent its performance capabilities.