Volvo starts European production of EX30
The plant will also begin producing the EX30 Cross Country later in 2025. Volvo states that bringing the EX30 to its Ghent plant will create around 350 new jobs. It is located on the outskirts of the Belgium city, just near to the port. It is one of two car manufacturing plants operated by Volvo in Europe, and produced just over 186,000 cars in 2024. That includes other fully electric models such as the EX40 and the EC40. Along with the plant in Torslanda, Sweden, it means Volvo produces a total 10 different electric and hybrid car models across Europe. There are also rumours that the company soon plans to produce the EX90 at the Ghent factory.
As Volvo’s cheapest electric car, the EX30 is also one of its most popular. It’s based on the Geely SEA platform, while Volvo has until now only built vehicles in Ghent on the CMA and SPA platforms. This means the Ghent plant has had to be modified to accommodate the new platform. Volvo has said that this required the the introduction or replacement of 600 robots, an expansion of the battery hall, a new door production line and a new battery pack assembly line.
The EX30, which is one of Volvo’s best selling EVs, was previously assembled at the Geely plant in Zhangjiakou in China and shipped worldwide. However, following a decision in October 2023 to increase EU production capacity, Volvo began preparing its Ghent plant to assemble the EX30. The company made an investment of approx. €200m Euros over the last few years – an investment that was quickly vindicated after EU tariffs on Chinese-built EVs came into force in 2024. Volvo also opened a battery assembly plant in Ghent in 2022 to support the expansion.
“The EX30 is crucial for us as we continue to strengthen our position in the premium EV market in Europe,” said Francesca Gamboni, chief manufacturing and supply chain officer for Volvo Cars. “Investing in the European production of the EX30 in Ghent perfectly aligns with our long-held strategy to build our cars where they sell best. Our flexible global footprint contributes to our resilience, allowing us to adjust our manufacturing plans with agility.”
Stefan Fesser, manager of the Ghent plant, added: “Following a decision in autumn 2023 to bring production of the EX30 to Ghent, we were able to industrialise the new model in record time. Thanks to the engagement and collaboration of the entire Ghent team, we cut the industrialisation time in half. Today, we are extremely proud to welcome the EX30 and demonstrate the new technology and innovation enable us to react more flexibly to market demands.”
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