Volvo EX30 Spotted in India Ahead of Launch This Year

Volvo is set to foray into the Indian compact electric SUV segment with the launch of the EX30, its smallest and most budget-friendly electric car in the world. To be launched this festive season, the EX30 will be positioned below the EX40 and EC40 in Volvo's EV range and is likely to unlock a more affordable entry point into the Indian luxury EV segment.

Spotted Testing Ahead of Launch

A test mule of the EX30 was recently seen testing on the Jaipur-Delhi highway, which means the final stages of road testing are in progress. The test car was caught with full camouflage but had a temporary white number plate with Haryana registration, indicating continuing homologation and certification work. Despite the wrap, signature Volvo design elements like pixel-style vertical LED taillamps and Thor's Hammer LED headlamps could be easily seen. Dual-tone, machine-cut alloy wheels also added to the road presence of the SUV. 

Manufacturing and Local Assembly

The EX30 will probably be locally assembled at Volvo's Hosakote, Karnataka, facility, similar to the EX40 and EC40. Local assembly should enable Volvo to price the SUV more competitively in India, an important strategy for a segment that is getting hotter with premium and luxury EVs.

Interior and Features

In keeping with Volvo's design philosophy, the EX30 will have a minimalist interior design with eco-friendly materials and a technology-oriented design. At the top of the dashboard is a 12.3-inch vertically mounted touchscreen that hosts Volvo's Google-based infotainment software, which supports both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Safety-wise, Volvo is likely to offer the EX30 with a full ADAS package, several airbags, and a 360-degree camera.

Powertrain and Range

The EX30 globally is based on the SEA (Sustainable Experience Architecture) platform of Volvo's parent entity, Geely. The same platform supports the Jeep Avenger EV, among others. Overseas, the EX30 comes with three powertrain options and two battery packs. In India, the model is expected to be available with the higher 69 kWh NMC (Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt) battery that enables both single-motor and dual-motor AWD variants. The solitary motor model boasts a range of as much as 474 km on a fully charged battery. 

Pricing and Segment Positioning 

While pricing has not been revealed, the EX30 should be priced lower than the EC40 (₹59 lakh) and EX40 (₹50.10 lakh), at around ₹45–49 lakh (ex-showroom). This would be the cheapest Volvo EV sold in India, and a formidable competitor to offerings such as the BMW iX1 (₹49 lakh), Hyundai Ioniq 5 (₹46.05 lakh), Kia EV6 (₹65.97 lakh) and even the BYD Sealion 7 (₹48.90- ₹54.90 lakh).

If Volvo can keep the dual-motor model competitively priced, it would provide customers with an appealing mix of performance, safety, and Scandinavian style.

Image Source: Rushlane.com