Volvo starts EX60 production: ‘An important milestone for Sweden’

Volvo Cars has started production of its EX60 electric SUV at its manufacturing plant in Gothenburg. The new flagship model will boost the local economy and highlights the carmaker’s commitment to Sweden as a centre for vehicle development and production.

Volvo EX60 start of production — Production of the Volvo EX60 began on 22 April. Photo: Volvo Cars

The new fully electric EX60 is being built at Volvo’s plant in Torslanda, in close proximity to its global headquarters. The first deliveries will be made in early summer.

The EX60 is expected to be one of Sweden’s largest export products in terms of value.

“Today is an important milestone for our company and for Sweden as a whole, as we start to build the first EX60 customer cars,” said Håkan Samuelsson, Volvo Cars CEO in a press release.

“We are now focused on a steady ramp-up of high-quality EX60 production, making sure this game-changing car will be a profitable growth driver in the coming years.”

The new model was unveiled in January this year. Last month, Volvo Cars announced it will increase planned production volumes due to strong demand. The Gothenburg plant will build up to 40,000 cars this year.

It is the first car built on Volvo's new production platfform, known as SPA3, which uses megacasting technology and cell-to-body technology, which integrates battery cells into the structure of the car.

A strategic automotive hub

Volvo has launched several EV models in recent years. The EX60 is the first that is designed, developed and manufactured entirely in Sweden. It underpins the position of Gothenburg and western Sweden as an automotive development and manufacturing hub, said Volvo Cars.

The Volvo Group, Polestar, Zeekr, Lynk & Co, Wireless Car, Artifex Systems and many more progressive automotive companies and suppliers are also headquartered and/or operate important sites in the region.

Volvo was started in Gothenburg in 1927. Today, Volvo Cars is the Gothenburg region’s largest private employer and one of Sweden's largest companies by turnover and market value.

Invested heavily in Gothenburg

In recent years, Volvo Cars has made major upgrades to its Gothenburg plant in preparation for production of the EX60 and other next-generation electric cars. It has invested around SEK 10 billion (approximately EUR 1 billion), and has introduced mega casting capabilities, a new battery assembly plant, and refurbished its paint and final assembly shops.

“The start of EX60 production marks an important milestone for Gothenburg. At a time of intense global competition, it demonstrates the strength of Swedish engineering and advanced manufacturing,” says Patrik Andersson, CEO at Business Region Göteborg.

Together with Steptura, with support from public actors in Gothenburg, Volvo Cars is also developing a new neutral open innovation arena directly next to its manufacturing and R&D operations in Torslanda. The area known as Näst Innovation Destination Torslanda will gather startups, scaleups and large corporations who focus on energy, materials and digitalisation.

In addition, Volvo Cars has also built a new facility, where in the coming years it aims to produce battery cells for its electric vehicles. The company has previously said it is in discussions with potential partners.

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