Volvo Q1 global sales numbers are in, and...

[matthew1]

Volvo's been getting absolutely rogered on EV sales. Everyone has. Everyone bet big on EVs 5-10 years ago and are now paying for it. Here's a press release I just got for the first quarter sales numbers (global) 2026:

q12026.jpg (50.42 KiB) Viewed 601 times

I'm not singling out Volvo here. Everybody bet big. Toyota, Ford, everybody is putting out releases like "We bet too big on EVs and took a $5B hit". They all did it, it's not just a Volvo thing. I'm happy Volvo backed out of its crazy all EV strategy 1.5 years ago, that's the important thing here.

The good thing is they recognized this error a few years ago and cancelled their 'all-EV by 2030' plans.

Simplified Volvo EV Timeline

March 2021 first pure EV
July 2024 doubts surface on EV strategy
August 2024 EV sales down bad
Sept 2024 Volvo abandons 2030 plan
March 2026 Volvo drops EX30 from North American market

[Vova585]

IMHO Volvo is loosing greatly and fast. Would not be surprised if Geely would put it for sale soon. I personally dont see any new model that I would like to buy for myself or my family, possibly XC40, but still doubt. Prices are unjustly high. Quality is mediocre. Design of xc90 is old. 4cyl engines are not existing. Hybrid power train is joke(you are buying Aisin transmission, just pay toyota for hybrid motor and battery), no entry level sedan for a reasonable price(good old days of S40). No full size wagon for enthusiasts(v90/v90cc), repairs that require access to internet and oem software...safety rating below Subaru and Mazda(common guys)..Plus turbulent times and people are having less disposable income.
If I would have to buy a car now, I would likely pre-order some Toyota hybrid and forget tye names of dealer mechanics, advisors, parts personal.

[matthew1]

What I see as the #1 complaint on new Volvos is the infotainment system (AAOI) and its never-ending updates, glitches, and headaches. It's a huge fumble in a premium market. These Volvo infotainment systems are powered by Google and customized by Volvo. I've said this before but here it is again: Google ecosystem is the wolf in sheep's clothing. Always has been, since 1998, probably always will be. Everything is free, but you pay for it in hidden ways (your data).

In this AAOI instance it's just buggy. Or else Volvo applies the layer of software bugs, I don't know. Features disappear from the dash display suddenly after over-the-air overnight updates. I'm not exaggerating. Things like maps, music selection, etc. Then three updates later they appear again.

The choice was easy for me: Apple CarPlay. But that would be an upfront cost, adding to MSRP. Oh no, can't do that. Everything in today's society is free free free (but low quality) and this Google decision turned out to be exactly that. It's sad and stupid and a black eye for a premium brand.

Volvo is learning the poor man pays twice.

[Vova585]

"Volvo is learning the poor man pays twice"
Ukrainian proverb is slightly different and says "gready man pays twice".
I think Volvo was great when it was a car that teacher and average family could afford(think 240). It was boxy, bold, safe, and fast(850r). It was smart to jump on raised wagon niche with legacy outback(98v70xc) and then strike gold with both gens of xc90 which saved the company. It had a momentum with better reliability so people from vw/audi and BMW camp were switching...but now it is is blah...it lost the niche of safest car, it is expensive, reliability is down, rust protection is not as hood as it once was(i have 2001, 2015, 2016, 2016, 2016, 2017 in my family, so can compare how they stand up against PRNY salt bath). Infotainment is junk..My question here, who actually needs all this junk? If I would have a chance I would totally buy again 98v70xc or 97accord wagon 2.2vtec and pay for that. Both cars had everything the person needs and were reliable. (Sign me into retirement home, I am starting "back in my day"). Even on this forum the most posts are P1 and P2. Rare P3 and SPA is almost newer. I think that the key to success for volvo is to turn back to its niche and stop trying to go upmarket(jeep tried and we all see how it turned for them). If I would be marketolog, I would suggest to "dare to be different". Make more analog knows, resurrect all Nissan xtrerra slogal" everything you need and nothing you dont"(something like that), make it more affordable without numerous touch screens and "mild hybrids" (you are either pregnant or not, so please volvo decide what you are doing).

[scot850]

My thoughts exactly Vova. There is no Volvo made after 2014 I consider buying. Like you the XC40 is a maybe, but the prices being asked for those are stupid high. Basically 2019's are asking about the price they were new up here. The price for a small SUV is just stupid for just an ordinary car.

They have like many other manufacturers lost their way and are building stuff not many actually want and lost their loyal buyers in the process.

Neil.

[matthew1]

I should have added context to support my point. The prior four quarters, all 2025 combined:

Europe: ~103,608 BEV (down 22%).
US: 10,708 BEV (up 91%).
China: 2,342 BEV (down 46%).

Europe and China are very EV friendly, yet sales are down. US is up, but 10k for a full year, something like 850 per month, is a rounding error for Chinese EV market, and it's almost all EX30 which is now dropped from US line. (BEV = pure EV)

[matthew1]

The good news is my sister likes her EX30 very much. (They discontinued it about two weeks after she bought it. I don't know if she knows or would care. I didn't tell her. )

She and her husband opted for insurance company tracking on the car to lower insurance costs because they have a teen son in the home (the demographic who raise insurance, bar none).

Because of this she hasn't gone blasting around town testing the (certified Class A Bonkers™) 3.4 second 0-60 MPH ability. I'll be out to visit them in 3 weeks and will suddenly need to go to the store for milk, and thus borrow the EX30. I may or may not double their insurance rates in doing so.

(I would have killed for a car that would have done 0-60 in double that time. 6.8 to sixty would have been a very fast car when I was in high school and I would have torn across town every night with a big smile on my face.)

[volvolugnut]

What if Volvo designed and built:
A 4 door sedan with wagon variation.
A basic 4 cylinder (or 5 cylinder) with single turbo.
Solid, robust design for long life and easy repair.
Minimal electronic displays and connectivity.
Basic family transportation.
Basically, a modern Volvo 240.

volvolugnut

[matthew1]

What if Volvo designed and built:
A 4 door sedan with wagon variation.
A basic 4 cylinder (or 5 cylinder) with single turbo.
Solid, robust design for long life and easy repair.
Minimal electronic displays and connectivity.
Basic family transportation.
Basically, a modern Volvo 240.

I think half of Gen Z would absolutely not buy this, and the other half absolutely would buy it.

Imagine what Volvo could do with the famous 5-cylinder today with better materials and 35 years of experience with the engine. They could make a modern 240 that's quieter, safer, more comfortable, and far better at fuel economy. I think they could do this and offer it for $20k or $25k and there would be riots outside Volvo dealers to get on the buy list.

[volvolugnut]

They have the plants and technology to manufacture in China.
They might be able to build for a sales price of maybe $25K?
But do they have the will to do this?
volvolugnut