The UK car market has changed a lot over the last decade. At the end of 2023 diesel car registrations contributed to less than 4 per cent of total sales. However, back in 2013 almost half of British new cars were diesels. Based on this it shouldn’t come as a huge shock to hear Volvo has decided to ditch the fuel type altogether, and its final diesel car has just rolled off the production line.
Volvo’s last diesel car was a XC90, manufactured in Volvo’s home country of Sweden. It followed the final diesel V60 built at its Belgian plant in February. This entire model line had already been discontinued in the UK after Volvo’s decision to pull all its estates and saloons to focus on SUVs. Ending production of diesels will help Volvo in its plan to become an electric-only car manufacturer by 2030 and to be climate neutral by 2040. So, it’s out with the old and in with the new. Last year Volvo launched the electric EX30, the cheapest Volvo SUV yet with the smallest carbon footprint so far. We are also expecting the all-electric EX90 to arrive soon, with more new models to follow. However, while this is a chance for Volvo to remind us how much sustainability is at the forefront of its ethos, it is not the first manufacturer to turn its back on diesels. In the UK, there are already lots of brands no longer offering diesel cars including Fiat, Ford, Honda, Nissan, and Vauxhall. Meanwhile, if you are after a new diesel car you can still buy one from brands such as BMW, Audi, Land Rover, Mazda, and Volkswagen for now.
