Volvo EX30 News

Volvo Australia has launched a new Cross Country version of its EX30 small EV SUV, which it says is “designed for people who want big experiences from their small, fully electric SUV”.

Nearly two billion dollars? Volvo posts massive tariff-induced on-paper loss.

Euro NCAP’s Technical Manager of Assisted Driving Systems, Adriano Palao, has criticised Tesla’s autopilot software, going so far as to say the suite is “misleading consumers about the system’s capabilities”.The fresh retort of Tesla’s autonomous driving technology comes as Euro NCAP detailed the differences in a variety of similar systems on the market, noting “some systems are more user-centric and safe than others”.Performance testing for the Model S - which is no longer sold in Australia - had the safety body determining that it performed poorly awarding it just 30 per cent for its Assistance Competence score.The Assistance Competence score ranks autonomous features for their performance, clarity of information, how they communicate capability limitations, driver monitoring, and driver collaboration. It is distinguished from the Safety Backup score, which ranks how the systems avoid a collision in a variety of situations, as well as when a sensor is blocked or the driver is unresponsive.The body noted it was jarring the Model S scored an Excellent 94 per cent for its Safety Backup score, but just 30 per cent for Assistance Competence.Euro NCAP said not only does Tesla name the system Autopilot and suggest full automation in its promotional material, but also noted the system’s steering input was resistant to driver attempts to override it, and upon doing so, the entire system automatically disengages, “limiting its usefulness”.The body also noted issues with the centrally-mounted touchscreen, in that the driver had to take their eyes off the road to view alerts.Euro NCAP ultimately said: “Tesla is misleading consumers about their autopilot system’s capabilities simply through its name and marketing, which could have potential safety implications.”Tesla was not the only company marketed on its safety credentials who came under fire in the latest round of autonomous system testing. Even Volvo’s new EX30 crossover was in the firing line, with the safety body earmarking similar concerns about its autonomous driving tech.The EX30 performed better than the Tesla in the Assistance Competence score, landing at 62 per cent, although was marked down for similar reasons to the Model S, it recorded a score less than the Tesla for its Safety Backup, at 72 per cent.Both cars, alongside the MG ZS, were awarded an overall Moderate rating for their active safety suites. Other cars considered in the round of testing included the Kia EV3, Porsche Macan, and Toyota bZ4X, all of which received a Very Good overall score, while the Mazda CX-80 and Xpeng G9 recorded a Good overall rating.Euro NCAP’s latest round of autonomous driving feature testing comes as the technology proliferates across a much wider spectrum of the market. Many brands now spruik some level of autonomous driving through an advanced cruise control suite, although as Euro NCAP notes, not all of these systems are created equal, and just ticking feature boxes does not always result in a safer system.In addition to more thorough testing of autonomous driving systems, Euro NCAP will also include standards for automakers to include physical buttons and dials from 2026, labelling the overuse of touchscreens an “industry-wide problem, raising the risk of distraction crashes”.Euro NCAP said the new protocols will encourage manufacturers to use separate, physical controls for basic functions in an intuitive manner, limiting eyes off-road time and therefore promoting safer driving.Under the new protocols, cars will be marked down by not including physical switches for indicators, hazard lights, the horn, operating windscreen wipers, and activating the SOS function.

Volvo warns that "something has got to give" in Australia's new-car market, with too many brands now fighting for too few sales for all to survive.That's the word from Volvo Car Australia Managing Director Stephen Connor, with the senior executive also detailing how his brand will survive the new-marque onslaught."We've got 70-plus OEMs here, and we've probably got another 20 arriving on our shores in the next short period of time. It is crazy," he said."The market is, they reckon, 1.2 million this year. I personally think it's about one million, but let's go with the experts, and they're saying it's 1.2."So 1.2m (sales) with probably 90 OEMs – something has got to give."I think the people who will struggle are the people who are going to be fighting in that volume segment. And I think, good on the new entrants coming in. They're going to bring a new dynamic."Asked whether all 90 brands would still be in Australia in five years time, the executive replied "I don't think so"."I think there will be some consolidation, and this is only my personal view," he said, "I think some brands who have come in, the new ones, have gone, (saying) this is too hard and too difficult."His thoughts echo those of Kia, Toyota and other major players, all of whom suggest the new-car makeup in Australia is going to change, though Volvo is in a unique position, given several of the new players – Polestar, Geely, Zeekr and the soon-to-arrive Lynk & Co – are all part of its extended family .But Volvo says realistic expectations and a business model not contingent on extreme volume will ensure the marque survives in Australia."We're looking for marginal growth this year, which is okay. We've gathered production based on marginal growth," Mr Connor says."I think it's important for us to grow as a brand. But we don't need to grow by 20 per cent. Five per cent, two per cent – that's good enough for us as we go forward. Our production this year is based off about 9,500 units. And we're comfortable to achieve that."A changing product line-up will fuel that marginal increase, Mr Connor says, with some well-known models on the way out, replaced by vehicles the brand hopes will capture more sales."So S60 and V60, we say goodbye this year to those models. They were only about 300 cars a piece. There's a lot of time and energy spent just to sell 300 cars, and as you know, sedans are struggling in this marketplace," he says."We've got the EX90, which will be about 300 cars this year. We've got XC90, the new one. So that will be about 1100 units roughly. We'll get some extra growth from EX30 Cross Country. We have refreshed XC60, a big segment for us. It's normally about 3000 cars. Then later on this year we've got the ES90 as well, which will be small volumes again."But you see, we've consolidated the line-up. So that's where our growth will come from. Refreshed XC90, refreshed XC60. We've got obviously XC40, which is still a great seller for us as well, and then you've got EX30."

Australia’s premium small SUV hybrid class is about to experience a shake-up with the arrival of the Alfa Romeo Junior.

Volvo has launched a more rugged Cross Country variant of its electric EX30 SUV.

A rough and tumble version of Volvo’s pocket-sized EX30 electric SUV has been confirmed.

It’s a year that will likely go down as an historical turning point for the Aussie new car market. With local manufacturing now a tiny spec in the rear view mirror, the long-predicted new wave of Chinese challenger brands built into an automotive tsunami in 2024.

Many so-called “all-new” models aren’t all that new. In fact, a sizeable chunk are reskinned versions of what came before, with fresh sheetmetal over the same general hard points.

ANCAP has released a raft of new scores for eight new models which have landed in Australia this year, with some notable new entrants falling short of the maximum five-star rating.