At the end of 2025, Volvo Cars is making an unambiguous statement: electrification is no longer a distant prospect, but a booming industrial reality. With significantly improved range, ultra-fast charging, 800-volt architectures and new-generation on-board intelligence, the Swedish manufacturer’s successive announcements confirm a technological move upmarket that is as much about performance as it is about long-term credibility.
A new generation of electricity well established
The year 2025 will mark a key stage in Volvo’s transformation. With the launch of several strategic models and an in-depth update of its electric headliners. The Scandinavian brand is showing that it is turning a decisive corner. The ES90, unveiled in the spring, embodies this new phase. Positioned in the premium segment, it boasts a range of up to 700 kilometres and, above all, express recharging made possible by an 800-volt architecture. This means it can recover around 300 kilometres in ten minutes under optimum conditions.
This logic is also applied to more compact and versatile models. The EX30 Cross Country, an adventurous version of the electric urban SUV, illustrates Volvo’s desire to cover a wider range of uses without sacrificing efficiency. With a claimed range of over 420 kilometres and a range from 10 to 80% in less than thirty minutes, the model is fully in line with the standards expected by the European market in 2025.
EX90 and the rise of 800V architectures
At the top of the range, the EX90 large SUV also benefits from a major upgrade with the 2026 model year. The integration of an 800-volt architecture, combined with increased computing power for on-board systems, marks a clear departure from the previous generation. Volvo is highlighting a platform designed to last, capable of evolving through software updates and already rewarded with a top score in Euro NCAP crash tests.
This increase in technological power is not limited to the powertrain. At the same time, the EX90 unveils new safety and comfort features, such as a multi-adaptive seatbelt that adjusts its response according to body shape and situation, and a Bowers & Wilkins audio system developed with an acoustic signature inspired by Abbey Road studios. The aim is to make electric cars a desirable choice, not just a rational one.
Batteries, recharging and sustainability at the heart of the strategy
Behind these launches lies in-depth work on the battery, the real sinews of war in electric vehicles, as we now know. Volvo has announced that it is aiming for a 50% increase in energy density by the middle of the decade, based in particular on its partnership with Northvolt. This development should make it possible both to extend autonomies and to reduce recharging times, with the promise of charging speeds double those of current generations.
The Swedish brand is also emphasising the integration of new functions linked to the electricity grid, such as V2G, which will enable vehicles to return energy to the grid, and the recycling of batteries at the end of their life. These choices are part of an even broader sustainability strategy, with a stated objective of 50% recycled plastics in new models and a gradual reduction in the carbon footprint over the entire life cycle.
Financial performance and roadmap
These advances are accompanied by solid economic results. In the second quarter of 2025, Volvo Cars posted EBIT (Earnings Before Interest and Taxes) of almost SEK 2.9 billion (around €268 million), despite the tense situation in the automotive industry. Nearly 44% of worldwide sales are now of electrified vehicles, including more than 20% of fully electric models, confirming the relevance of the strategy pursued.
Nevertheless, the carmaker is continuing with a recovery and cost optimisation plan, valued at 18 billion kroner (around €1.7 billion), in order to secure its long-term trajectory. The objective remains unchanged: to achieve at least 90% electrified sales by 2030, including plug-in hybrids. It’s an ambitious target, but one that Volvo believes is compatible with market realities, thanks in particular to historic models such as the XC60, which has now sold more than 2.7 million units.
International recognition
This strategy is beginning to bear fruit in terms of image. The EX90 has been named World Luxury Car 2025, while Volvo has been awarded the title of Manufacturer of the Year by several professional institutions. These distinctions validate the premium technological positioning claimed by the brand, at a time when competition in the electric market is intensifying.
On the eve of 2026, with the announced arrival of the EX60 and the promise of ranges unheard of in the premium segment, Volvo seems to have struck a balance between innovation, industrial prudence and strategic coherence. A trajectory that, without making too much noise, places the Swedish manufacturer among the most credible players in the electric transition in Europe.
Sources: volvocars.com – worldcarawards.com
