FIRST WAVE:  The mini electric EX30 is an urban EV aimed at a younger demographic who can subscribe to it and make it their first Volvo

By Ali Mphaki

Greg Maruszewski, Volvo Car SA MD probably never heard of a local band called Via Afrika – that erstwhile ensemble which exploded onto a jaded and unsuspecting public in 1983 fusing dance beats, whistles, chants, dub bass and ethnic rhythms, their eponymous debut album an instant hit with both (white) pop and (black) African radio, a rarity in those musically segregated times.

Banned on radio – something to do with the lyrics of  one of their hit songs Hey Boy, the group had another hit entitled Via Afrika (which shared the same name as the band), whose lyrics we in the kasie corrupted to mean uBabam’ UneVolvo (my father owns a Volvo).

Not surprising therefore that over the years the brand – try as it may – has not been able to shag rid itself of the Volvo tag  being associated with ‘AmaGrootman’  or the “matured” mostly through their high priced units. In Britain for instance, we told, the average Volvo customer age is 54. Terrifyingly, 54 isn’t far off from qualifying for Lindiwe Zulu’s SASSA pension grant.  Maruszewski dismisses the  notion of “old age”  as a fallacy and insists  Volvo is for “every one with a valid driver’s license” , speaking to Ali Mphaki at the unveilng to the media of the sharply styled Volvo EX30 at Johannesburg’s thriving Victoria Yards venue on Thursday. There may be little to dispute Maruszewski’s philosophical retort, but many will agree that Volvo urgently needed “something affordable to get younger drivers hooked on” – a getaway drug, so to speak.

No wonder therefore there was a noticeable spring in the step of Volvo’s head honchos at the launch of the  EX30, what the company says is an urban EV aimed “at a younger demographic who can subscribe to it and make it their first Volvo”.

The Volvo EX30 arrives in SA with an alluring blend of Swedish design, Google-powered tech, and, thanks to its parent Geely, Chinese electric vehicle know how. It is also worth remembering that a decade ago Volvo poached Bentley’s interior design head, hints of his genius evident in the EX30’s revolutionary yet minimalistic cabin – with its consistent theme of natural and recycled leather-free materials.

The dash features a new contextual single-screen UX, complete with Google built-in and running the latest version of Volvo’s infotainment system. Offered in multiple configurations – allowing customers to choose powertrain options, battery types and trim levels, not to mention select from an exterior colour palette comprising a collection of vibrant hues – the new EX30 comes highly rated in areas as varied as performance, safety and sustainability.

For instance, in 315 kW Twin Motor Performance guise, the EX30 is the fastest-accelerating Volvo ever, completing the 0-100 km/h sprint in just 3.6 seconds. On the other hand, the 200 kW Single Motor Extended Range powertrain can cover up to 476 km on the WLTP cycle. It charges fast, too, with DC charging capacities of up to 153 kW, translating to a 10-80 percent charge in a little over 25 minutes.

In a segment brimming with more affordable Chinese options, it remains to be seen if the EX30 will find its place under the sun. Faxt  is that the EX30’s arrival helps to cement Volvo Car SA’s already presence in the local new energy vehicle space, while also enhancing accessibility to electric cars for many South Africans.“We’re excited to launch the new EX30 in South Africa as part of the first wave of this important new model’s global rollout. We believe that the EX30 will become one of our best-selling models as we continue to work towards our local and global sustainability ambitions,” said Maruszewski.

Orders can be placed on the MyVolvo website.

Pricing

EX30 Core Single Motor – R775 900

EX30 Plus Single Motor Extended Range –R865 900

EX30 Plus Twin Motor Performance –R935 900

EX30 Ultra Single Motor Extended Range –R965 900

EX30 Ultra Twin Motor Performance –R995 900

The new EX30 comes with a 5-year/100 000km Volvo Warranty and Maintenance Plan, as well as 5-year/unlimited mileage Roadside Assistance, Da[1]taDot and Volvo On Call (SOS Roadside Assistance & 24/7 365 Personal Concierge). The battery pae new EX30 comes with a 5-year/100 000km

Volvo Warranty and Maintenance Plan, as well as 5-year/unlimited mileage Roadside Assistance, Da[1]taDot and Volvo On Call (SOS Roadside Assistance & 24/7 365 Personal Concierge). The battery pack is further covered by an 8-year warranty.

MOTORING:

Briefs

CITROEN C3 CAR OF THE YEAR

The Citroën C3 has been named one of the 18 finalists to vie for the prestigious Old Mutual Insure 2024 Car of the Year (COTY) title. The 38th running of the South African COTY competition recognises excellence in new vehicles launched to the local market and is judged by a professional jury of some of the best motoring media in the country.  Citroën’s new C3 was launched last year in the hotly contested B-segment, those entry-level compact cars that account for nearly half of the passenger car market. Its unique character makes for the ideal South African proposition, reveling in the practical requirements of customers in typically chic Citroën style.  Run by the South African Guild of Mobility Journalists (SAGMJ), their jury noted the Citroën C3’s exceptional value for money in selecting it as one of two finalists in the Budget and Compact category.

CHERY BAKKIE TO RIVAL HILUX

 Whispers and rumours suggest that Chery may debut a double cab bakkie soon to rival the likes of the stalwarts of the game like the Hilux, Ranger and more. Various rumours and theories are floating around suggesting that the seemingly inevitable Chery bakkie will be a rebadged product from another Chinese brand, it’ll feature an EV powertrain or may even be a plug-in hybrid, but nothing has been confirmed, as company officials haven’t confirmed nor denied anything.

 The idea of a Chery badged bakkie is not a new topic, with the idea being addressed in 2022 by Charlie Zhang, Chery International’s executive vice president. “We are also working on the feasibility study of developing the pickups because the pickup market in Australia is something very, very important. So I believe in the next [few] years, we will develop the pickup.”hery Could Introduce a Hilux-Rivalling Double

ADAPT OR DIE

 Bloomberg — Volkswagen, Renault and Stellantis are thinking the unthinkable, exploring tie-ups with sworn competitors to make cheaper electric vehicles and fend off existential threats.  As Chinese rivals and Tesla Inc. expose competitive weaknesses at Europe’s biggest mass-market carmakers, it’s become clear that a sense of urgency is growing and a business-as-usual approach is a losing option.  There’s a “perfect recognition that in the future, the companies which are not fit to face the Chinese competition will put themselves in trouble,” Carlos Tavares, chief executive officer of Stellantis NV — the company created from the 2021 merger of Italy’s Fiat and France’s PSA Group — said in an interview last week. He has previously said that Europe’s auto industry faces a “bloodbath” if it doesn’t adapt.

DAIHATSU CHIEFS GETS THE BOOT

Daihatsu’s president and chairman are both getting the boot as part of a desperate attempt by parent company Toyota to save the smaller firm’s reputation and limit any negative publicity for Toyota itself. The reorganization at the top comes after it was discovered that the company faked collision data, putting the safety of thousands of drivers at risk. Both the current president, Soichiro Okudaira, who had worked for Toyota for almost 40 years before getting the Daihatsu gig in 2017, and chairman Sunao Matsubayashi, have agreed to resign as part of the shakeup. According to comments by Toyota Chief Executive Koji Sato and reported by Reuters, the changes are not part of any punishment meted out in retaliation for the Daihatsu’s safety scandal, but do you really buy that? Sounds like slapped wrists all around, to us.

ONE MORE THING…..

Frank Stephenson, one of the world’s most celebrated car designers, and certainly the most cosmopolitan,  believes modern designers are too reliant on computers. This affects creativity. Often their work is also too rushed, as development times shrink. What’s more, says Frank, if car designers could draw better, cars would look better. The creative flow from mind to medium is less constrained using pen and paper than with a computer: more human and more inventive. ‘Using pen and paper, you’re less inhibited. You’re expressing your inner thoughts in the purest form.’

He’s the designer responsible for probably the two most iconic small cars of this millennium – Mini hatch and Fiat 500 – and some of the most memorable supercars, including the McLaren P1 and Ferrari F430.