Volvo’s EX30 SUV is small and goes fast, much like its newly unveiled US pricing
Four months after its public debut in Italy, Volvo has confirmed the targeted pricing for its compact EX30 SUV in the US. As one of the first all-electric models to reach cost parity with its combustion counterparts, the EX30 has the makings to be a true game changer for Volvo Cars and the EV industry as whole.
Volvo Cars has been moving fast toward today’s EX30 pricing announcement, as it was only May when we got our first teaser of the tiny SUV alongside promises of a June debut. Electrek‘s Seth Weintraub got the invite to Italy to see the sheet pulled off in person, learning some interesting tidbits about the EV, such as how it accidentally garnered some impressive acceleration.
As you can see in some of the images below, the EX30 will arrive not only as Volvo’s smallest SUV model, but will also offer the Geely-owned automaker’s lowest carbon footprint throughout its lifespan.
When the EX30 made its official debut this summer, we learned it was targeted to be priced around $35,000 – an MSRP milestone many OEMs have targeted but very few have hit. Today, Volvo has confirmed US pricing of the new EX30 and will deliver on its promise to offer its tiny SUV at a price to match its size.
Volvo confirms EX30 pricing, pre-orders begin this fall
Volvo Cars USA confirmed EX30 pricing today, which we have broken down by trim level and powertrain configuration below. As promised, the “Core” trim of the single motor version starts at an MSRP below $35,000 (excluding destination fees).
Described as, “an espresso shot of Volvo,” this compact SUV features a variety of Scandinavian design elements and safety features, including radars, cameras and ultrasonic sensors. The EX30 comes with Google Maps and Assistant built in alongside a myriad of ADAS features.
While we don’t have the details of the dual motor EX30’s EPA range yet, Volvo has shared that the single motor variant will be able to go 275 miles on a single charge. We do, however, already know the dual motor version can travel a blistering 0-60 mph in 3.4 seconds – not bad for a Volvo!
Per Volvo USA, here’s how the EX30 pricing breaks down:
| Powertrain | Trim Level | Starting MSRP* |
| Single Motor Extended Range | Core | $34,950 |
| Single Motor Extended Range | Plus | $38,900 |
| Single Motor Extended Range | Ultra | $40,600 |
| Dual Motor Performance | Plus | $44,900 |
| Dual Motor Performance | Ultra | $46,600 |
Today we also learned Volvo’s “Plus” package includes Harman Kardon Premium Sound, a dual tone panoramic roof in Onyx Black, and 19-inch wheels. The “Ultra” add-on includes the equipment above as well as Volvo’s next generation of Pilot Assist with Lane Change Assistance, a 360-Camera with 3D View, and Park Pilot Assist.
Volvo says it will share more details of the EX30’s trim levels and how they vary in the coming weeks, assumedly ahead of pre-orders which will begin in the US sometime this fall. First deliveries are expected to begin in the first half of 2024.
Electrek’s Take
As we’ve touched on multiple times since its teaser video in May, Volvo’s EX30 could be a home run for younger urban and suburban consumers that don’t need a giant car and don’t want to break the bank, but also want to go all-electric.
The Volvo name is also synonymous with safety, another huge selling point for younger consumers who are perhaps starting families or like weekend roadtrips. There are currently very few EVs on the market today that offer pricing anywhere near $35,000 – so the EX30 is sure to garner plenty of inquiries after Volvo starts advertising during NFL games or awards season and such.
Let’s remember, however, that this is a Geely EV that will be built in China, meaning there is not chance of federal tax credits in the US. At $35k who cares, but remember that’s merely the single motor “Core” trim. That will still be a hit, but we’d imagine Volvo will start rolling out those dual motor versions first to get some income flowing back to HQ.
Yes, the acceleration cannot be overlooked – that’s fast and the EX30 is going to be fun as hell to test drive. But price-wise, the dual motor trims aren’t far off from the Hyundai IONIQ 5, 6, and Kia EV6, and I’d personally take HMG’s technology and 800V platform over the EX30 – not to mention more passenger and cargo room.
That’s simply my opinion, however, and at the root of this equation, we as consumers all win. Volvo is on the cusp of delivering an ultra-compact, super affordable SUV in the US, presumedly setting the stage for a future of more price-friendly, dependable EV models for the masses. It’s exciting to see.
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Packing up to 852 hp and a cutting-edge technology stack developed by Huawei, Chinese luxury brand Maextro just revealed its latest entry into the Mercedes-Maybach EQS and Rolls-Royce Spectre segment of ultra-luxe EVs. Meet the all-new Maextro S800.
Despite a somewhat steady stream of new Chinese EVs that defy expectations and threaten to re-set the global order of performance cars, semi trucks, and just about everything in between, brands like Maybach, Rolls-Royce, and even Bentley have seemed relatively “safe,” in the sense that their value is based on something a bit less objective than lap times or kW/mile.
The new Huawei Maextro S800, first shown as a series of renderings late last year, seems to have found some of Henry Rolls’ secret sauce – and they’ve sprinkled it liberally all over the S800.
Huawei sparkles – literally
The shimmering, sparkly, fiber-optic headliner was pioneered by Rolls-Royce over a decade ago, pushing back against the more open and accessible glass-roofs that were becoming popular in the higher end market. Huawei goes a step further, adding similar, Swarovski-like shimmer to not just the headliner – but the door handles, the headlights, projections dancing around the car as you approach it in the street.
It looks and feels special, in other words. And these cars are all about making their owners feel special. Different.
When Henry Rolls began work on his first US factory in Springfield, Massachusetts way back in 1919, there was supposedly a mantra that management repeated to the workers. It went, “every time you touch the car, you add cost. Make sure you add value.”
I’m not here to argue that Huawei is living up to the same maxim with the Maextro, but I am here to argue that this car’s bespoke, purpose-built platform doesn’t share any parts with a lesser offering from the Mercedes or BMW or Volkswagen lineup in the way that a Maybach, Rolls-Royce, or Bentley does. That may not mean much to you and me, but the people shopping six- and seven-figure cars, it might.
Those well-heeled buyers will get a choice of EREV or “pure” battery electric powertrains good for between 480 and 852 all-electric horsepower. 32 ADAS sensors including both radar and lidar compliment a suite of cameras analyze the road ahead and feed data to Huawei’s ADS road perception system, which is constantly adjusting torque distribution, suspension compression and rebound, and front and rear steering to deliver a tech-driven chauffeur experience that Huawei insists is second to none.
That digital chauffeur is also pretty handy when the weather goes sideways, too. Huawei says the Maextro’s sensor array can help it to increase the detection distance in rain, fog, and dust by 60% compared to the benchmark, while delay was reduced by 40%.
In the event a collision is unavoidable, the car can adjust its stance, seating position, raise the windows, and unlock the central control lock to enable outside help to open the doors. Following the collision, the Maextro S800 switches the redundant power supply and calls for help, as well.
Finally, reports indicate that the Maextro S800 supports the 800V high-voltage system in some trims, suitable for 6C charging, which means it can be energized with up to 390 kW of charging power, taking just 10.5 minutes to charge the 66 kWh battery in the EREV version (523 hp) from 10% to 80%.
The Maextro S800 will enter the Chinese in May this year with a price range of 1 – 1.5 million yuan (about $135–205,000 US).
Maextro S800 | gallery
SOURCE | IMAGES: Maextro, via CarNewsChina.
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Volvo Penta will debut its latest modular and scalable battery energy storage system (BESS) platform for the off-grid construction and mining industries at the bauma equipment show – here’s what you can expect.
Best-known for its marine engines and gensets, Volvo Penta is the power production arm of the Volvo Group, specializing in putting energy to work. Operating under the tagline, ‘Made to Move You’, Volvo Penta is headed to bauma 2025 with a plan to keep construction, port shipping, and mining operations moving productively and competitively throughout their transitions to battery and (in theory, at least) hydrogen power.
To that end, the company will show off a job site ready version of the scalable and modular BESS subsystem concept shown last year.
Volvo says its new, modular BESS subsystem will enable other OEMs and third party system integrators to seamlessly deploy electric power to meet the ever-exceeding energy needs in construction and mining.
“Our modular and scalable battery-electric platform is designed to support the electrification ecosystem—combining high-performance drivelines with the crucial energy storage subsystems for efficient charging and operation in construction and mining,” says Hannes Norrgren, President of Volvo Penta Industrial. “We want to meaningfully collaborate with our customers on value-added customization that will enable them to stay productive, efficient, and future-ready.”
The Penta substation at bauma will be built around the company’s “Cube” battery pack, an energy-dense solution with a favorable C-rate designed to make it easy for BESS manufacturers to offer more compact job site solutions capable of charging and discharging energy with high levels of speed and efficiency, enabling both stationary and mobile BESS configurations that can change and grow to meet the evolving needs of a given asset fleet or project.
A Volvo Penta-developed DC/DC unit converts the voltage from the Cube battery packs (600 V) into lower voltage (24 V) for powering auxiliaries and portable offices.
Electrek’s Take
Volvo Penta has always provided power. Historically that’s been from combustion, but the company is looking ahead, developing products that will bring energy to job sites, tractors, and more long after the last ICE engine shuts down.
SOURCE | IMAGES: Volvo Penta.
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Just days after Rivian announced that it would be making its iconic electric delivery vans available to anyone willing to pay for one, the company launched the new Rivian Upfit Program, offering a “one-stop shop” to help fleet managers put its EVs to work.
Launched in partnership with commercial vehicle heavyweights Ranger Design, Sortimo of North America, Bush Specialty Vehicles, Holman, LEGEND, and EV Sportline, the Rivian Upfit Program helps fleet buyers make the switch to electric by simplifying the ordering process and delivering an experience that more closely reflects the experience fleet managers get at dealerships.
Despite partnering with leading brands and launching into a well-establish market, however, the program’s web page seems largely aimed at people outside the space – even kicking off with an explanation of what upfitting is:
Upfitting is the process of customizing a vehicle in order to meet fleet, business, or individual consumer needs to tackle the job at hand. This work is done after the vehicle has been built and released from the factory, and can include everything from shelving modifications, flooring options, to sirens and flashers and much more.
The program was announced on LinkedIn with a number of photos indicating upfit options for Rivian’s R1T and R1S vehicles focused on lifeguard and roadside assistance duty, and Rivian’s van upfit with a HVAC/telecom style toolbox arrangement.
No word on pricing or turnaround time.
Electrek’s Take
The general consensus around the Electrek water cooler is that the direct-to-consumer model offered by Rivian, Tesla, and even CarMax deliver a superior customer experience, I’ve consistently drunk the franchise dealer Kool-Aid, arguing that the industry-leading margins enjoyed by these companies actually indicate they’re giving consumers an objectively worse deal than they’d get in a more competitive dealer landscape.
That same competitiveness has led to talented fleet managers at those franchise dealers putting in the effort to get to know the needs of the businesses and buyers in their regions, to understand what upfit options makes sense for their local markets, and – crucially – what to stock for quick turnaround when their customers need it.
Rivian is hoping its upfit partners will do a lot of that heavy lifting for them, but my two cents is that if building cars is hard, building relationships is harder, and Rivian isn’t going to make a good first impression by talking down to its customers. If you think differently, let me know how I got it wrong in the comments.
SOURCE | IMAGES: Rivian, via LinkedIn.
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