Volvo adapts its industrial strategy to be able to continue to sell its ex30 model in Europe, and possibly with us. Its small electric SUV is now assembled in the Ghent factory, in Belgium, when it was previously only produced in Zhangjiakou, China.
A decision that was essential
This new production line is easily explained: the ex30 rose to 13th row of the best -selling electric cars in Europe in the first quarter of 2025.
The establishment of ex30 to Ghent is not trivial: it required an investment of 200 million euros, in particular to produce a new assembly line, integrate or renovate 600 industrial robots and create a new production line for battery blocks.
The Belgian factory already produces the EC40 and EX40 electric models, as well as the XC40 and V60 hybrids, making this site a pillar of Volvo electrification in Europe.
Distribute production according to the markets
Volvo also said they wanted to intelligently distribute production according to the region. The models assembled in Belgium will be primarily intended for Europe and then in North America while the models produced in China will be shipped to markets not affected by taxes, such as the United Kingdom or Southeast Asian countries.
The former Directorate of Volvo, by the voice of Jim Rowan, explained in 2023 that the company was going to “go gradually in cadence” to Ghent, while exploiting the Chinese capacities for the other markets.
An uncertain future with us
Initially planned for after 2025, the launch of the ex30 in the United States and Canada is now uncertain. The recent taxation by the American administration of a 25 % rate on all foreign vehicles could force Volvo to review its plans for this market.
The brand new ex30 could therefore unfortunately disappear from our roads if the prices are maintained.
Original Auto123 content.
