The moment has arrived, and it hums rather than roars. Volvo Cars has officially set the wheels in motion for the fully electric EX60, with production now underway and first customer deliveries scheduled for mid-2026. As global order books swell beyond expectations, South Africa is firmly part of the conversation, signalling a shift that feels less like a trend and more like a turning tide.
Built at the brand’s Torslanda plant in Sweden, the EX60 is more than just another electric SUV. It carries the weight of a milestone, becoming the first fully electric Volvo to be conceived, engineered, and produced entirely on Swedish soil. There’s something quietly poetic about that, a kind of homegrown reinvention that aligns heritage with a forward-looking electric identity.
For South African motorists, the timing could not be sharper. The narrative around electric vehicles has evolved from cautious curiosity into a far more decisive question of choice. Against that backdrop, the EX60 arrives with numbers that speak directly to local realities. A claimed range of up to 810km positions it as a genuine long-distance contender, comfortably bridging the Johannesburg-to-Durban route on a single charge. Add to that a rapid charging capability that takes the battery from 10% to 80% in just 16 minutes, and the traditional anxieties around range and downtime begin to dissolve into something far less intimidating.
Volvo is clearly targeting a sweet spot in the market, positioning the EX60 as a premium yet attainable step into full electrification, particularly for buyers already considering plug-in hybrids like the XC60 T8. Early demand suggests that strategy is resonating. Orders in key European markets have already outpaced internal projections, prompting the company to ramp up production volumes for 2026. Additional markets, including the United States and parts of Asia, are set to open their order books soon, further fuelling momentum.
CEO Håkan Samuelsson describes the start of production as a defining moment, underscoring the company’s focus on scaling output while maintaining quality. His remarks hint at something broader than a single model launch. The EX60 is being positioned as a cornerstone in Volvo’s next phase of growth, one that leans heavily on electrification as both a commercial and technological driver.
Behind the scenes, the Torslanda facility has undergone a transformation to support this ambition. A substantial investment of around SEK 10 billion has reshaped the plant, introducing mega casting capabilities, a dedicated battery assembly line, and upgraded paint and final assembly operations. It is a retooling not just of machinery, but of mindset. The decision to extend production through an additional week over the European summer, an unprecedented move for the factory, speaks volumes about the scale of global appetite.
What emerges is a picture of a car arriving at precisely the right moment, backed by infrastructure, demand, and a shifting consumer mindset. The EX60 does not just enter the market; it glides into a landscape that seems increasingly ready to receive it.
