Volvo Car South Africa leads electric revolution with record sales in 2023
In 2023, Volvo Car South Africa achieved remarkable sales growth in the new-energy vehicle market, maintaining its leadership in the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) sector and boasting the nation's most popular fully electric vehicle (EV).
The XC60 Recharge plug-in hybrid retained its title as South Africa's favourite PHEV, closely followed by the XC90 Recharge plug-in hybrid, mirroring its success from the previous year. The XC60's sales saw a 37.5% increase from the prior year, representing nearly a quarter of all PHEV registrations in South Africa for 2023. The XC90 experienced an even more significant growth, with sales increasing by 87.1% yearly.
The XC40 Recharge led the EV category in 2023, rising from third place the year before. Following its recognition as the best New Energy Vehicle at the 2023 Old Mutual Insure South African Car of the Year competition, the fully electric XC40's sales more than tripled, capturing a 16.6% EV market share.
Greg Maruszewski, Managing Director at Volvo Car South Africa, noted the continuing expansion of the country's new-energy vehicle market, with Volvo's electric and plug-in hybrid models spearheading this growth. Despite new competitors entering the market, Volvo's dominance in these segments is a positive sign, with high hopes set for the launch of the EX30 in 2024.
The XC60 and XC90 Recharge plug-in hybrids, offered in four well-equipped variants, feature a combination of a turbocharged petrol engine and an electric motor powered by an 18.8 kWh lithium-ion battery, delivering a total output of 340 kW and 709 Nm. The XC60 Recharge offers an 81 km electric range, while the XC90 Recharge provides up to 77 km of zero-emission driving, according to WLTP standards.
The XC40 Recharge is available in Single Motor Plus or Twin Motor Ultimate configurations, with 175 kW/330 Nm power outputs for the rear-wheel drive model and 300 kW/660 Nm for the all-wheel drive version.
Volvo Car SA's range includes a variety of electrified options, from mild hybrids to PHEVs and EVs, aligning with Volvo's global objective for half of its sales to be fully electric cars by 2025 and aiming for a fully electric line-up by 2030, underscoring its commitment to a future without emissions.
