Volvo Cars has recently commenced production of its fully electric EX30 small SUV at the Ghent manufacturing plant in Belgium. This marks a significant milestone for the company as it continues to strengthen its position in the premium EV market in Europe.
The Ghent plant will also start manufacturing the EX30 Cross Country variant later this year. This expansion has led to the creation of approximately 350 new jobs, bringing the total employment at the plant to nearly 6,600 people.
Francesca Gamboni, Volvo Cars’ chief manufacturing and supply chain officer, highlighted the importance of the EX30 for the company’s future. She stated, “The EX30 is crucial for us as we continue to strengthen our position in the premium EV market in Europe. 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.”
Volvo Cars has invested around €200m ($227m) in the Ghent facility to facilitate the production of the EX30. This investment includes the addition of a new car platform, installation of nearly 600 new or refurbished robots, extension of the battery hall, a new door production line, and a battery pack assembly line.
The production of the EX30 in Europe not only supports Volvo Cars’ sustainability goals but also aligns with the EU’s sustainability and competitiveness agenda. The EX30, which was introduced in late 2023, has already become one of Europe’s best-selling electric cars in 2024.
The Ghent plant, along with the Torslanda facility in Sweden, now produce ten different electric and hybrid models in Europe. Stefan Fesser, the Ghent plant manager, praised the team’s effort in industrializing the new model in record time, thanks to new technology and innovation.
The Ghent factory, operational since 1965, is the only remaining fully developed car manufacturing facility in Belgium. Volvo Cars is also constructing a third car manufacturing plant in Europe in Slovakia.
In addition to the EX30 variant, the Ghent plant produces other electrified models such as the EX40, EC40, XC40, and V60 hybrid models. In 2024, the Ghent factory manufactured over 186,000 cars.
This production expansion comes at a time when Volvo Cars reported a 10% drop in global sales for March 2025, attributed to lower sales of fully electric vehicles. However, the company remains optimistic about the future of electric mobility and is committed to driving innovation in the EV market.
As Volvo Cars continues to make strides in the electric vehicle sector, the production of the EX30 in Ghent signifies a significant step towards achieving its sustainability and growth goals in Europe.
