In their own words, Volvo have proudly announced that they have built their last diesel car.

On a cloudy Thursday in early February, the plant in Ghent, Belgium, produced its last diesel-powered car, a V60. And just the other day, the plant in Torslanda, Sweden, saw its last XC90 diesel car roll off the production line.

These events mark a huge milestone in Volvo Cars’ 97-year history, and with this move, Volvo are taking a big step towards their ambitions of becoming a fully electric car maker, as well as achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. Though in many people’s opinions, it’s a huge gamble.

Goodbye diesel, hello electric

For a long time, Volvo’s diesel engines were synonymous with reliability and efficiency, and their success played a significant role in their evolution into a premium brand.

Volvo report that in recent years the electric revolution has evolved quicker than most could have imagined – and it’s largely propelled by tightening regulations around tailpipe emissions, as well as customer demand in response to the climate crisis and a desire for cleaner urban air. Only five years ago, the diesel engine was Volvo’s bread and butter in Europe, just like it was for most other car makers. The majority of the cars they sold in Europe in 2019 ran on diesel, while electric models were just starting to gain traction.

Today, most of their sales on the continent are electrified cars. Last year, Volvo increased their sales of fully electric cars by 70%, and their global electric market share by 34%. The figures speak for themselves, underscoring that the all-electric direction they’re now heading towards is the right one to take, and they do so with their flag held high.

While their future indeed is fully electric, Volvo still have a mixed portfolio that includes plug-in hybrid and mild-hybrid models, which will act as a perfect bridge towards that future.