Volvo Cars says

[93Regina]

Volvo Cars says new generation of diesel engines could be the last: CEO

"From today's perspective, we will not develop any more new generation diesel engines," Samuelsson told German's Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung in an interview.
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It’s noteworthy here, though, that around 90% of the XC90s that Volvo Cars sells in Europe are of the diesel engine variant.

[oragex]

We've never got the brilliant D5 here in North America. A brilliant, economical and torquey engine. That said, Volvo is (finally) investing in full electric and hybrid cars which should show up quite soon. All 100% chinese made which is not a bad news as chinese workers can do a great work when properly supervised.

[850 LPT]

I think it's a little pre- mature, but what do I know. I would buy a V70 D5 in a heartbeat if it was available.

What's interesting is that two companies, Mazda and Jaguar are entering the diesel market here this year despite the recent setbacks. Mazda with the CX-5 and Jaguar with the XE.

[93Regina]

I think it's a little pre- mature...diesel

Worldly speaking, an electric-vehicle transition is a real paradigm shift, but when is the question.

There are hints that several new battery techs may be coming soon, and if one of them pans out, being cheaper and more storage capacity, this could accelerate this shift. Battery cost is the stumbling block, so if a cheaper battery with more storage comes along, then these vehicles will be quite affordable.

Even Apple has an electric car project, codenamed "Titan."

Electric Car Drivers Want Electric SUVs/CUVs, Midsized Cars, Much More Model Variation

[93Regina]

Wireless EV Charging Pilot For Renault Kangoo Z.E. Via Qualcomm & Vedecom

Renault has partnered with Qualcomm Technologies and Vedecom to explore wireless electric vehicle charging at a rate as high as 20 kilowatts (kW) — with the wireless charging working even up to 62 miles per hour (100 km/h)! In other words, this rate of wireless electric vehicle charging (DEVC) could enable vehicles to charge while driving. … Well, that certainly would hush any charge anxiety.

[mrbrian200]

My thoughts.
It could merely mean VOLVO engineers consider this latest gen diesels to be the end-all-be-all mature product. Engineers project no further efficiency/power/emissions gains to be achieved though means deemed practical in a passenger vehicle (constrained by cost/weight/form factor). In effect testing, modeling, and known theoretical limitations of diesel technology would indicate these are as good as it gets. As such VOLVO's expects these to carry their diesel powertrains through until ICE is completely out of the picture 15-20+ years down the road.
There may be gains to be made through waste heat capture and tweaking the exhaust catalysts- but those devices would be external to the engine. Volvo is thinking ahead. Probably waaay ahead. Seems to be one of the things they shown a history of being pretty good at.

[jimmy57]

" All 100% chinese made which is not a bad news as chinese workers can do a great work when properly supervised."

Volvo will build a fraction of cars in China. S90 long wheelbase ad the P3 S60 Inscription. The S60 build will move to Ridgeville SC when that plant goes online and becomes the sole S60 plant. HQ is still in Sweden.

[mrbrian200]

" All 100% chinese made which is not a bad news as chinese workers can do a great work when properly supervised."

Volvo will build a fraction of cars in China. S90 long wheelbase ad the P3 S60 Inscription. The S60 build will move to Ridgeville SC when that plant goes online and becomes the sole S60 plant. HQ is still in Sweden.

A lot of people don't understand 'poor quality' stuff we and other countries get as imported products from China are a function of US-based importers ordering low spec/award manufacturing contracts to lower bidding suppliers for higher ROI. The 'good stuff' just isn't what we get here. I know several people who grew up in China and have at some point in their life immigrated to the US. They maintain Chinese products produced for domestic consumption tend to be of the highest quality - exports to other countries is where all the cheap crap goes. It's not because the Chinese have some nefarious plot to make the rest of us miserable. Its our own domestic importers/companies at the heart of it. Factor also the American consumer tending to be more driven by low price points instead of seeking quality at a higher price. Lux car owners, in particular new car VOLVO buyers and other higher priced lux models by nature buck that consumer trend. So we're more likely to object when we suspect inferior quality anything on our cars (and elsewhere). A Ford Fiesta owner is more likely to just replace whatever went bad without as much fuss about it. They aren't as likely to hold Ford to the same quality standard we tend to hold to VOLVO. Considering the segment of the market VOLVO is going after is 'higher quality at a higher price', yes, VOLVO should be held to a higher standard.

[93Regina]

I think it's a little pre- mature

Largest Battery Factory In Europe Under Construction By … Daimler

German Chancellor Angela Merkel was joined by a host of executives and dignitaries to celebrate the beginning of construction for the largest battery factory in Germany in Kamenz, 80 miles south of Berlin.
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“The automotive industry is facing a fundamental transformation and we see ourselves as the driving force behind this change,” said Zetsche. “The battery factory in Kamenz is an important component in the implementation of our electric offensive. By 2022, we will have more than ten purely electric passenger cars in series. We also continue to drive forward the hybridization of our fleet.

Daimler is investing €500,000,000 into the factory, which will assemble lithium-ion battery packs for Mercedes and Maybach automobiles as well as energy storage batteries. Daimler has entered into a partnership with Vivint Solar to market rooftop solar systems coupled to residential storage batteries.

[matthew1]

A lot of people don't understand 'poor quality' stuff we and other countries get as imported products from China are a function of US-based importers ordering low spec/award manufacturing contracts to lower bidding suppliers for higher ROI. The 'good stuff' just isn't what we get here. I know several people who grew up in China and have at some point in their life immigrated to the US. They maintain Chinese products produced for domestic consumption tend to be of the highest quality - exports to other countries is where all the cheap crap goes. It's not because the Chinese have some nefarious plot to make the rest of us miserable.

I agree. Look at hoverboards (the wheeled variety, not the actual hovering ones). Every piece on those are the rock-bottom of the barrel quality, yet we buy them and they burn our houses down and kill our families, in some cases.

Look at the airline industry. It's a horrible mess. Why? How did it go from glamorous to hellish in 50 years?

All of this is brought to you by... you and me. The consumer who is looking for the lowest price available. Price is everything, quality means nothing.

Oh you hear plenty when the quality is poor... reviews, laws, hand-wringing. But all that fades when the product is on the screen, and the price is the lowest of all the others, and the Buy button calls out to us.