Volvo Will Bring PHEV and Diesels to U.S., Still No Word on a Volvo EV for Us

Volvo officials didn't have much to say about U.S. plans when they showed off their new C30-based electric car concept and a prototype plug-in, diesel-electric hybrid (right) in Sweden last month.

But the head of the automaker's U.S. operation confirmed in a recent interview what we've long suspected,  that Volvo does plan to bring plug-in hybrids and diesels to this market at some point.

The big questions are when, and what about that EV?  Both went unanswered in Volvo Cars North America CEO Doug Speck's interview with Automotive News.

Fuel prices, consumer interest and government support of the various advanced automotive technologies will drive Volvo's efforts, Speck said.

He repeated what Volvo told us last month - that the company's first pug-in hybrid would hit the market in Europe in 2012. He added that it will come to the U.S. sometime after that, and that Volvo diesels also would be sold here at some point.

It all makes sense - as does our suspicion that a Volvo EV won't be withheld from this market for too long once the company gives the go-ahead to a production project.

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Volvo showed off this C30 hatchback-based battery-electric prototype in Sweden last month.

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The U.S., after all, accounts for nearly a quarter of Volvo's sales and the company can't afford to withhold its newest and most advanced vehicles for very long.

Add to that the demands of the new U.S. CAFE rules which require average fleet fuel efficiency to hit 35 mph by 2020 and you can build a pretty good case for Volvo hybrids, diesels and EVs being sold here.

John O'Dell, Senior Editor

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John O'Dell October 13, 2009, 11:30 AM

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