Volvo is considering saying goodbye to diesel in the next generation

The chief executive of Volvo, Hakan Samuelsson, has stated that the current generation of diesel engines could be the last of the Swedish carmaker, and that instead, the company will focus on the production of electric and hybrid vehicles. Samuelsson also wanted to give credit to Tesla for the growth in demand for electric vehicles over the last few years.

“Under the current circumstances, we will not develop a new generation of diesel engines,” Samuelsson told the German regional newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. However, the chairman also made it clear that diesel engines will continue to play an important role in the coming years. This type of fuel will help the company meet its targets for reducing vehicle emissions, since they are still more efficient than traditional petrol engines.

Under the current circumstances, we will not develop a new generation of diesel engines The director of Volvo pointed out that the emissions regulations in Europe are pushing them to be more aggressive in developing efficient engines, and that electrically powered cars will be necessary after 2020.

The director had previously stated that strict pollution regulation will raise the price of diesel cars to the point where hybrids and plug-in hybrids will become the most attractive alternative. Samuelsson hinted that they could stop producing diesel engines by 2023.

In addition, the Swedish company thanked Tesla for increasing the interest of drivers in electric vehicles. “We have to recognise that Tesla has managed to offer a car that people are queuing for, and in this category there must also be room for us,” said Samuelsson.

The Swedish carmaker will launch its first electric car in 2019 with a price of between 30,000 and 35,000 euros, and they have already confirmed that they plan to manufacture it in China and export it globally. This vehicle will be built on the new modular electric car platform of Volvo (MEP), which apparently will become the focus of the company’s development.