Volvo announced a new entry-level variant of its smallest EV, the EX30. It is expected to start in the low 30,000 euro range in select European markets, well below the current Belgian starting price of 38,990 euros for the 200 kW Single Motor variant.
It will be positioned as the cheapest Volvo in the lineup, regardless of powertrain.
The EX30 could use a boost. When first deliveries began in late 2023, the car was an instant hit. Half a year after its debut, it had climbed to second place in Europe’s EV sales chart, trailing only the Tesla Model Y.
For the full year 2024, it ranked third with over 78,000 European registrations (according to data from Jato Dynamics).
But after the spike, the momentum stalled. By the first half of last year, European registrations had fallen 37 percent, dropping the EX30 from third to twelfth place. One of the culprits was the production switchover from China to Volvo’s Ghent, Belgium, plant. The strategic move to avoid EU tariffs on Chinese-built cars came at the cost of a temporary supply bottleneck.
More crowded segment
But competition nibbled away at some of the initial appeal. By the end of 2025, global sales had fallen to 75,169 units, a 23 percent decline. The EX30 fell out of Europe’s top ten BEVs entirely, overtaken by newcomers like the Skoda Elroq (94,087 units), the Renault 5/Alpine A290 (90,770 units) and the Kia EV3 (66,350 units).
The new base model is an attempt to reclaim some of that lost ground in a segment that has become far more crowded since the EX30 first charmed Europe.
The newbee brings a 110 kW (150 PS) motor paired with a 51 kWh LFP battery. It still has a WLTP range of 339 km.
But for those who need more legroom on the motorway, the same electric motor is also available with a larger 69 kWh battery, stretching range to 476 km. Charging times remain unchanged: 10 to 80 percent in 26 minutes on DC fast charging.
Powerbank on wheels
Beyond the new powertrain, the model year update brings a handful of welcome refinements. Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality – letting the car act as a mobile power bank for e-bikes, tools, or camping gear – will arrive via an over-the-air update this summer.
The hardware is already in place; owners will only need to purchase a separate adapter. A redesigned UX system introduces a customisable control panel for quicker access to frequently used settings.
On the design front, two new interior options have been added to the range. ‘Harvest’ offers a warm, light-toned cabin with woven recycled textiles and dark flax decor – think late Scandinavian summer evenings. ‘Black’ goes the opposite direction: deep, monochrome Nordico upholstery with subtle contrasting seams. The Black Edition is still available.
Fire risk
The timing is not without its complications. The announcement arrives days after Volvo initiated a recall of some 40,000 EX30 units over battery fire risk linked to Sunwoda cells, which represent nearly a quarter of all EX30s ever sold. The cells will be replaced free of charge. Until the swap is completed, owners are asked not to charge more than 70%.
Even though early units were shipped from China, Belgian customers are not affected. No Sunwoda-cell units were sold in Belgium, and the Ghent plant now provides all the volume.
Whether a lower-priced EX30 can reverse the sales slide and fend off the Skoda Elroqs and Kia EV3s of this world remains to be seen. But it is clear that, after China, the EV battle in Europe will unfold on a lower price floor.
