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Volvo Automotive Marketing

Volvo makes a big electric car pledge as its parent scoops up a flying car startup

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By Lisa Lacy, n/a

July 6, 2017 | 3 min read

Automaker Volvo is going green in a big way as it announced every car it manufactures from 2019 onward will have an electric motor – not to mention its parent has reportedly purchased a flying car startup.

As of 2019, new Volvos will come with electric motors.

As of 2019, new Volvos will come with electric motors.

Volvo said it will launch five fully electric cars between 2019 and 2021. Three of these cars will be Volvo models and two will be from Volvo performance brand Polestar. These cars will be supplemented by a range of plug-in hybrid and mild hybrid options on all models.

“This means that there will in [the] future be no Volvo cars without an electric motor, as pure [internal combustion engine (ICE)] cars are gradually phased out and replaced by ICE cars that are enhanced with electrified options,” the brand added.

“This is about the customer,” said Håkan Samuelsson, president and chief executive, in a statement. “People increasingly demand electrified cars and we want to respond to our customers’ current and future needs…this announcement marks the end of the solely combustion-engine-powered car. Volvo Cars has stated that it plans to have sold a total of 1m electrified cars by 2025. When we said it we meant it. This is how we are going to do it.”

Volvo also aims to have climate neutral manufacturing by 2025.

In the meantime, Geely, the automotive manufacturing company based in China that owns Volvo, has reportedly bought flying car startup Terrafugia.

That’s according to CleanTechnica.

Terrafugia said its Transition model is “the world’s first practical flying car”. Transition is designed to accommodate two people and it can both drive and fly with a cruise range of 400 miles. It can go 100 miles per hour in the air and at highway speeds on the ground.

According to Terrafugia, it is finalising production design and compliance testing and anticipates delivering vehicles within three years. It is accepting $10,000 deposits for reservations.

Terrafugia and Geely did not respond to requests for comment, so it’s unclear what Geely’s plans are for the 11-year-old company, although some reports note flying cars are more environmentally friendly because in part they enable more efficient travel.

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