Volvo Car USA is boasting each of its 2023 models will be a will be a mild hybrid, hybrid or electric vehicles and will come with Google as a built-in feature.
Regardless of lifestyle or access to charging, U.S. customers can now find an electrified Volvo car to fit their daily routines, Volvo said in a statement accompanying the announcement. With the popular XC90 and XC40 SUVs, as well as the V60 Cross Country, now receiving mild hybrid engines as standard, Volvo says it is making good on its sustainability commitment to electrify its full range of vehicles.
The 2023 Volvo line-up is in production now and will begin arriving in retailers this summer, officials noted.
For those without easy access to charging, mild hybrids offer increased efficiency compared to their predecessors, yet never need to be plugged in. The effort also reflects another step toward offering only pure electric vehicles by 2030 and being carbon neutral by 2040, the carmaker said.
New extended range plug-in hybrids offer all-electric driving in Pure mode while still providing a traditional gasoline-powered engine, Volvo said.
The 2023 Volvo will also include the 402 horsepower, battery-electric XC40 Recharge small luxury SUV and C40 Recharge luxury crossover offer zero tailpipe emissions.
Volvo electrified sales climbing
Volvo Car USA achieved an all-time sales record for its fully electric and plug-in hybrid cars in April as U.S. sales rose for the third consecutive month, finishing up 156% over the same period last year. Overall Volvo Car USA sold 10,022 cars during the month, down 9.2% despite continued supply constraints and other industry challenges.
The company’s Recharge models — EVs and PHEVs — represented 44.1% of Volvo’s total U.S. sales in April, an 18-point increase over April 2021. In California, Recharge sales were up nearly 66% and accounted for more than 71% of total sales — a 17-point increase — compared to the same period last year.
In Canada, sales of Recharge models rose 125.8% year-to-date over the same period last year and accounted for 31.6% of total sales in April. Overall sales increased 1.3% versus April 2021.
Volvo said Google built-in — already standard on the full-electric C40 Recharge and XC40 Recharge, the XC60, S90, and V90 Cross Country — rolls out to the entire Volvo Cars range for model year 2023.
Google features standard for ’23 models
As part of the Google ecosystem, Volvo cars now offer a seamless transition between digital life at home and on the phone, bringing customers’ digital lives, and much greater personalization, directly into their cars.
With Google Assistant for voice control, Google Maps as the native navigation system, and the Google Play store for additional apps, every Volvo car is equipped with a best-in-class digital experience, the company noted.
With the upgraded infotainment system comes the ability to receive over-the-air updates. All new 2023 Volvo cars are capable of receiving and installing software upgrades remotely, making it so the vehicle will improve over its lifetime.
Several models also receive styling updates for the new model year. New colors, wheels, and interior options that include leather-free materials, are available across the range in almost every model. The S60, V60 and V60 Cross Country feature refreshed styling with a new front grille design and updated rear bumper inserts. And with the elimination of trim lines across all models, customers have the freedom to combine the exterior design, interior upholstery, and equipment level of their choice.