2024 Volvo EX30 Debut Confirmed For June 15 Debut

This is what I don't like at all from the article.

"
Volvo has moved development work on sedans and the coming people-mover model to its Shanghai research and development hub, they said. That center, which has tripled its design staff to about 60 people, has recently moved to a new and larger building in Shanghai, one of the sources said.
The first of Volvo's new planned electric models, the EX90 battery-electric SUV, was unveiled late last year. It is expected to go on sale in early 2024.
Other battery-electric cars in the pipeline include electric versions of Volvo's main products – the XC90, XC60 and XC40 crossover vehicles and the S60 and S90 sedans, the sources said.
Those cars will follow Volvo's established, simple design cues, but the new van will target buyers in China and other markets with a more "emotional" design that builds from the Zeekr 009, which has a massive, LED-illuminated grille, one of the sources said."

I don't like any idea of moving Volvo's design to China. Volvo, up to now, has kept its Swedish sense by being designed and engineered in Sweden. Sharing platforms is no big deal and sending Volvo's tech to other brands is no big deal. But changing the design/engineering hub to China is something they've avoided. And I like the sedans anyway.

So, why have a Zeekr "premium" minivan for China and a Volvo one? The Zeekr one is $70,000. That's luxury money. Then what's the Volvo one. I don't see the point of the Volvo minivan. Swedes aren't about being "emotional," they're minimal, purposeful and sober in design. So, I don't like any talk of trying to transform Volvos into something they're not. I don't want to see Volvo's restyled Zeeker009 meant for the Chinese market. That to me is not a true Volvo.

Maybe I'll love what Volvo comes out with in the minivan. Maybe not. I just hope Volvo isn't trying to build up the company so it starts moving some of its operation out of its Swedish hub. I'd rather have a smaller Swedish Volvo than an expanded one that is Swedish flavored.

I don't think Volvo's aesthetics and style fit the Chinese market. Yes, for some, you can make the wheelbase longer and some of the SUVs might have some appeal. But some homegrown Chinese brands are now building really advanced, premium BEVs. So something is shifting. I don't know if BMW, Audi, and the others are selling that great in China now either. This is a change that is hitting a lot of Euro makers.

Volvo may want to think of offering truly premium cars still priced less than the Germans but they may not be able to sell but so many. That's OK. 1 mil globally in a few years might be fine. And if you include Polestar as part of the group of Volvo/Polestar in Geely Group, they'll add some more. Volvo may be going all-EV too soon. Hard to tell as in China the infrastructure seems pretty far along and in some European countries it is as well. But in North America, maybe. And Europe is lagging in tech features behind China. Only Tesla is matching China and even Tesla's sales may be going down some so Tesla had to lower their prices. Hard to tell because there is so much fanboy noise around that brand.

Yeah, the Volvo MPV thing may not make a huge splash. You can't out-Zeekr Zeekr with a Zeekr in "Swedish clothes" that has an attempt at bling. Zeekr may be kind of Swedish in Chinese clothes. But, have to see what Volvo comes out with first. Then we'll see how the Chinese market reacts to it. Volvo may be better off with a very luxurious, extended wheelbase EX90 "Excellence" because it'll stand out. I think they should not have made it the 009 size, because it'll cost more and unless people see it as a much higher-rung product, what's the point of going with it instead of the Zeekr that already has a plush, modern interior and a ton of performance?

VolvoFaRmeR said:

Ummmm no. It has been made clear that Sweden has full control over the company. It’s really getting tiresome to keep seeing these comments about “China” as nothing but negative. China single-handedly gave Volvo 11 billion dollars to build the SPA platform and look at the success. Why on earth does the location have anything to do with how the company designs cars? It doesn’t. Just like the quality of cars build in Chine are not only equal but higher because of newer technology.

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I think Chinese cars have a certain look and feel to their interiors (and sometimes exteriors) especially if designed for the Chinese market. Just look at how Japanese cars place their mirros in a particular place on fenders and design cars for different markets, Chinese cars have an emphasis on certain material patterns and especially interfaces that are particular to China. German cars have their particular look and feel as do Italian cars. Volvo has a Scandinavian sense and they haven't lost it with the Geely ownership. Now if Volvo uses Geely's SEA that was developed in large part by a Swedish engineer. Chinese and apparently don't have any problem using some Western designers and engineers. And why not. The world is getting more global. But I think plenty great engineers and designers will come out of China as well. Where Chinese seem to be exceptional is making existing technologies more efficient and doing it quickly but I think they're utterly capable of making innovations of their own. Some Western people limit them and say they need to copy or steal Western ideas but I don't agree whatsoever with that. And all manufacturers use ideas from others.

Yes, SPA2 had to be ramped up. SEA exists already and can be produced much quicker. Plus China just does things quicker than everybody else.

I don't know about Volvo styling being conservative. It is in some ways with the SUV/crossovers. But I think they could have been less evolutionary with the EX90 and EX30. The interior of the EX90 shows more changes, however, to the previous cars though it does keep a few of the same shapes in some places.

I don't think Volvo is moving that slowly. Look how long it is taking Honda to get out BEVs. The mighty Toyota won't have a true BEV platform until 2026 and even their hybrids are hard to find. The transition to BEVs takes time. The South Carolina plant is making the cars now, but they don't have the volume yet and they're probably making them pretty slowly as they're ramping up and some issues will surface. It'll take even longer for it to produce the Polestar 3, and even the China plant is taking a while to ramp up the Polestar 3. I think Volvo customers are patient. But, yeah, the model line is aging so it is time for the new models to hit the streets. Still, I think the sedan and wagons are still sleek while the SUVs, specifically the XC90 and XC60, are looking a bit long in the tooth.