Volvo to phase out conventional engine

Interesting news from Volvo this week, with all of its models from 2019 to be fully electric or hybrid spelling the end to the conventional internal combustion engine. The Chinese owned Swedish brand plans to begin phasing out the conventional car engine that has powered the industry for more than a century. In making the announcement Volvo’s President reiterated the company’s target to sell one million electric cars and hybrids by 2025. It also intends to launch five electric and hybrid vehicles between 2019 and 2021. Timing for a launch here will be all important given the long lead times and product cycles before a car rolls off the production line. On the current numbers Volvo will do far better with hybrid models here than electric vehicles with sales of the latter still very marginal – On the positive side Tesla is poised to start building its Model 3 this week with a starting price of $US $35,000 – due here sometime in 2018. I’m David Berthon
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