Volvo confirms big production increase for V60 Plug-in Hybrid

Volvo has confirmed they are increasing production of the V60 Plug-in Hybrid as demand far exceeds current supply. They will produce 10,000 in 2014.

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Late last month we heard from Sweden that production of the Volvo V60 Plugin Hybrid was set to double as Volvo responded to big demand for its tax-beating hybrid estate. And now Volvo has confirmed we got the story right.

Volvo has been building around 150 V60 Plug-ins a week at its facility in Torslanda – alongside the regular V60, V70, S80 and XC90 – but that is now set to be upped to 282 cars a week for the rest of 2013, with plans to build at least 10,000 in 2014.

The fact is that the V60 is a very appealing estate car already, and bolting a plug-in hybrid setup has turned it in to a big hit in showrooms because the barking mad official economy and emissions system bestows the V60 plug-in with emissions of just 48g/km, making it a real no-brainer in countries where governments blindly tax cars based on their official emissions.

That means countries like Holland, where Volvo has received more than 3,000 orders for the V60 Plug-in, and the UK are lapping up the hybrid offering from Volvo as a way to escape big taxes and still have a swift (0-62mph in 6.1 seconds), appealing and stylish car. No BIK, no congestion charge and no VED is a big incentive to buy – especially for companies – even at £50k.

Peter Martens, Volvo’s R&D VP. said:

We are exceptionally pleased that the V60 Plug-in Hybrid has received such a fantastic reception among consumers. However, I am not surprised. Our Plug-in Hybrid is a unique car, superior to all other hybrids on the market.
Since the Plug-in Hybrid has been integrated into the established production flow together with other car models, we have the flexibility to quickly adapt to the increasing demand.

It’s good news for Volvo, and for drivers who will escape the tax net, but we do wonder how long it will take governments to change the goalposts when they wake up and realise how much revenue they could eventually lose as car makers use technology to get round their goal to make us all drive hair shirt eco boxes?