Volvo to expand production at Ridgeville plant with new hybrid model
- Volvo invests $1.3M in Ridgeville over the past decade
- New hybrid model to join production lineup by 2030
- EX90 SUV upgraded with faster charging and safety tech
- South Carolina hailed as auto manufacturing leader
Over the past decade, Volvo Cars has invested $1.3 million in its Ridgeville facility in the Lowcountry — and it is hinting that even more is to come over the next five years.
With an annual production capacity of 150,000 for Volvo EX90, Polestar 3, and soon, Volvo XC60, the production is not slowing down.
Volvo has announced plans to add a new hybrid model to the Ridgeville plant production no later than 2030. This new model is designed to meet the specific demands of the U.S. market, in line with Volvo Cars’ increased focus on ensuring each region has the products it needs to meet customer demands, according to a news release.
“The Charleston plant is foundational to our strategic growth plan for the U.S.,” Luis Rezende, Volvo Cars’ president of Americas, said in the release. “By adding another model into production here, we’ll take a big step toward realizing the full potential of our local manufacturing investments and workforce, and accelerate progress toward our ambitious commercial targets in the coming years.
The company has sold over 27,000 XC60s prior to beginning production in Charleston, according to the release.
“Volvo Cars’ decision to further invest in Ridgeville reinforces South Carolina’s position as a national leader in automotive manufacturing,” Gov. Henry McMaster said in the release. “It highlights the strength of our workforce and the confidence the world’s top companies have in our state. We’re proud to continue our partnership with Volvo Cars and look forward to the company’s ongoing success in South Carolina.”
Volvo also announced that the North Charleston-produced EX90, its flagship electric SUV, has undergone enhanced hardware and software upgrades. Powered by the company’s new 800-volt electric system, the EX90 can charge even faster, while a core computer upgrade enables new and improved safety, collision avoidance and driver support features, according to the company.
New features include connected safety alerts for slippery roads, hazards ahead, and accidents ahead, along with the integration of automatic e-call functionality with “emergency stop assist,” according to the release.
Emergency stop assist is designed to bring the car to a controlled stop in its lane if the driver fails to respond to attention or hands-off warnings, for example due to sudden illness, the release stated. Once the car is stationary, the new e-call feature will automatically connect the car to an emergency call center linked to Volvo Cars. The center can then speak with the occupants and contact emergency services if needed.
Other new features include expanded automatic emergency steering functionality in darkness, along with “park pilot” assist for parallel parking.