Volvo to open new tech hub in Poland to develop future EV software in-house
Volvo Cars has shared plans to open an entirely new “Tech Hub” in Krakow, Poland, before year’s end. The new European footprint will serve as a key software development center for the EV automaker as it looks to go entirely electric by 2030.
Since announcing its target for becoming an entirely-EV brand by the end of the decade, Volvo Cars has made huge strides in embracing the movement, while simultaneously working to develop the technology to help get it there.
Since being acquired by Geely Holding Group in 2010, Volvo is gearing up for its largest overhaul to date, vowing to convert its entire lineup of base models to BEVs over the next several years. The automaker’s current EV lineup remains somewhat small but is growing and saw more than double sales in 2022 alongside record-setting revenues.
As Volvo Cars braces for a potentially challenging year due to continued supply chain disruptions, it remains confident its EV sales growth will continue. A model with the potential to truly bolster Volvo’s global sales will be the upcoming EX90, which its maker is hailing as the “safest vehicle it has ever produced.”
As Volvo Cars looks to lead by example in promoting electrification, it also intends to become a global leader in new EV technology, more specifically, software developed in-house. We’ve learned today that much of the software technology we will see in future Volvo EVs will come from Poland.
Volvo names Poland is new software development mecca
Volvo Cars shared details of its plans in Poland today, which include the new Tech Hub in Krakow – the country’s second-largest city behind Warsaw, its capital. According to the automaker, the new hub will inherit the full responsibility of developing complete key features for new BEVs, including core safety, perception, driver assistance, and autonomous driving capabilities.
As we’ve seen in the aforementioned EX90, Volvo’s vehicles, like all EVs, are becoming more and more software-defined, setting the stage for automakers to gain a larger segment of the market by delivering cars and trucks that are not only more technologically advanced than competitors but also offer the capability to get better over time using over-the-air (OTA) updates.
Volvo recognizes this and says it is putting large efforts into the new Tech Hub and its engineering staff to accelerate its transformation into a EV software leader. Volvo Cars CEO Jim Rowan spoke:
We’re a purpose-led and technology-driven company, so our new generation of Volvo cars will be more than just transport. They’ll be computers on wheels, designed to be updated over the air with new software. That means our Krakow tech hub and growing our in-house software development capabilities are key to our future success.
Volvo says it chose Krakow after much deliberation because the automaker has had a presence in Poland for over 30 years and sees the city as an emerging tech magnet with a large existing telecom sector. It believes it’s setting up shop in Krakow before its competitors and intends to take advantage of the untapped talent pool.
Volvo Cars expects the new hub to be open before the end of the year with about 120 employees before expanding to between 500 and 600 staff in Krakow alone by mid-decade. When operational, the Krakow Tech Hub will join Volvo’s current hubs in Stockholm and Lund, Sweden. The company is already trying to recruit the best engineering minds, per chief people officer Hanna Fager:
Our ambition is to attract and recruit top talent globally by being present in strategically important locations. Our new Tech Hub in Krakow is a perfect example of that. So if you’re interested in shaping the future of mobility with a brand that’s at the forefront of technology development, and inspired to be part of nurturing our strong culture and values, Volvo Cars is the place for you.
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Believe it or not, you can lease an EV for under $200 a month. New deals on models like the 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 and Kia EV6 are hard to pass up this month.
Electric vehicles have been all over the news lately, with the Trump administration threatening to end federal incentives and introducing new tariffs that are expected to lead to higher prices.
On the positive side, new EV models are arriving, giving buyers more options and driving prices down. Many automakers reported record US electric car sales in the first three months of 2024.
GM remained the number two seller of EVs behind Tesla after sales doubled in Q1 2025. With the new Equinox, Blazer, and Silverado EVs rolling out, Chevy is now the fastest-growing EV brand in the US. Ford’s Mustang Mach-E is off to its best sales start since launching, with over 11,600 models sold in the first quarter.
With the 2025 models rolling out and about 15 new EVs arriving this year, many automakers are introducing steep discounts to move vehicles off the lot.
EVs for lease for under $200 a month in April
Although the decade-old Nissan LEAF remains one of the most affordable this April at just $149 per month, there are a few EVs under $200 right now that are worth taking a look at.
The new 2025 Hyundai IONIQ might be the best EV deal this month, with leases as low as $199. Hyundai is currently promoting a 24-month lease deal with $3,999 due at signing.
Hyundai upgraded the electric SUV with a bigger battery for more range (now up to 318 miles), a sleek new look inside and out, and it now comes with an NACS port so you can charge it at Tesla Superchargers.
The offer is for the IONIQ 5 SE RWD Standard Range, which has a driving range of up to 245 miles. For just $229 a month, you can snag the SE RWD model, which has a range of up to 318 miles and a more powerful (225 horsepower) electric motor. It’s also a 24-month lease with $3,999 due at signing.
To sweeten the deal, Hyundai is offering a free ChargePoint Home Flex Level 2 EV charger with the purchase or lease of any 2024 or 2025 IONIQ 5. If you already have one, you can opt for a $400 public charging credit.
After slashing lease prices this month, the 2025 Nissan Ariya is actually cheaper than the LEAF in some regions. In Southern California, the 2025 Nissan Ariya Evolve AWD is listed at just $129 per month. The AWD model has a range of up to 272 miles.
The deal is for 36 months, with $4,409 due at signing. In April, Nissan cut Ariya lease prices to around $239 in most other parts of the country.
Kia has a few EVs available to lease for under $200 a month in April. The 2025 Kia Niro EV Wind is listed at just $129 for 24 months, with $3,999 due at signing. Kia’s crossover SUV has EPA-estimated range of 253 miles.
The 2024 EV6 may be worth considering at just $179 for 24 months ($3,999 due at signing). In California, the EV6 Light Long Range RWD is only slightly more than the Niro Wind.
In most other parts of the country, you can still find the EV6 for under $200 a month. The Light Long Range RWD trim offers up to 310 miles of EPA-estimated range.
| Lease Price | Term (months) |
Amount Due at Signing | Driving Range | |
| 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 SE RWD Standard Range | $199 | 24 | $3,999 | 245 miles |
| 2024 Kia EV6 Light Long Rang RWD | $179 | 24 | $3,999 | 310 miles |
| 2024 Kia Niro EV Wind | $129 | 24 | $3,999 | 253 miles |
| 2025 Nissan Ariya Evolve AWD | $129 | 36 | $4,409 | 272 miles |
| 2025 Nissan LEAF S FWD | $149 | 36 | $2,629 | 149 miles |
| 2024 Fiat 500 INSPI(RED) | $199 | 24 | $2,999 | 149 miles |
And don’t forget the 2024 Fiat 500e, which is now listed at just $199 for 24 months with $2,999 due at signing. The electric hatchback offers a range of up to 149 miles.
If you are looking to spend a little more, check out our list of EVs you can lease for under $300 a month.
Ready to snag the savings while they are still here? At under $200 a month, some of these EV lease deals are hard to pass up right now. Check out our links below to find deals in your area.
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![The US’s first solar panels over canals pilot is now online [video]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/04/Project-Nexus-solar-canal.jpg?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
Project Nexus, the first solar panel canopies over irrigation canals in the US, is now online in California, and there are plans to expand the project to other areas.
Project Nexus is a $20 million pilot in central California’s Turlock Irrigation District launched in October 2022. The project team is exploring solar over canal design, deployment, and co-benefits using canal infrastructure and the electrical grid.
India already has solar panels over canals, but Project Nexus is the first of its kind in the US.
The Turlock Irrigation District was the first irrigation district formed in California in 1887. It provides irrigation water to 4,700 growers who farm around 150,000 acres in the San Joaquin Valley.
Project Nexus will explore whether the solar panels reduce water evaporation as a result of midday shade and wind mitigation, create improvements to water quality through reduced vegetative growth, reduce canal maintenance as a result of reduced vegetative growth, and, of course, generate renewable electricity.
The California Department of Water Resources, utility company Turlock Irrigation District, Marin County, California-based water and energy project developer Solar AquaGrid, and The University of California, Merced, are partnering on the pilot. Project Nexus originated from a 2021 research project led by UC Merced alumna and project scientist Brandi McKuin.
Solar panels were installed at two sites over both wide- and narrow-span sections of Turlock Irrigation District canals in Stanislaus County, in various orientations. The sections range from 20 feet wide to 100 feet wide. University of California, Merced has positioned research equipment at both sites to collect baseline data so the researchers can decide where solar will work and where it won’t.
In February 2023, Project Nexus announced it would also deploy long-term iron flow battery storage in the form of two ESS 75kW turnkey “Energy Warehouse” batteries.
You can learn more about Project Nexus here:
Read more: In a US first, California will pilot solar-panel canopies over canals
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