• Volvo EX30 production is underway in Belgium.
• It got caught in tariff crossfire between China, Europe and the U.S, forcing the automaker to fast-track its European production plan.
• The EX30 is one of Europe’s best-selling EVs.

When Volvo debuted the EX30 in 2023, it quickly became a fan favorite with its classic Scandinavian design, solid specs and a palatable $35,000 starting price. In a market where EVs have long been a luxury, the EX30 felt like a breath of fresh (Nordic) air.

But geopolitics got in the way and it never hit that starting price. U.S. tariffs on Chinese-made vehicles—first under Biden, now even steeper under Trump—put the brakes on Volvo’s plans. The company had always intended to build the EX30 in Europe too, but trade tensions forced it to fast-track the move.

Now production of the EX30 is finally underway at Volvo’s Ghent plant in Belgium. The automaker poured €200 million ($227 million as of current exchange rates) into the facility, adding a new platform, extending the battery hall, installing 600 new or upgraded robots and setting up fresh production lines for doors and battery packs.

It’s a textbook example of how expensive, slow, and complicated it is to localize auto manufacturing. The U.S. industry is just starting to explore similar reshoring moves—but matching this level of transformation could take years and cost billions. And when inventories of cheaper imports dry up, prices could climb.

As Reuters reported, the EX30 was among a handful of Chinese-made vehicles sold in the U.S. Volvo is eligible for tariff refunds under a law that allowed firms that have U.S. operations, such as the automaker’s South Carolina plant that also exports vehicles.

That said, the EX30 quickly became one of Europe’s best-selling cars. In fact, it was the third best-selling car in Europe in 2024, with around 78,000 sales, ranking right behind the Tesla Model Y and Model 3.

The impact of European production on its prices is unclear for now. In the U.S., the EX30 starts at $44,900. With a 69 kilowatt-hour battery, it has an EPA range of 253 miles. Only the dual motor all-wheel-drive version is available stateside for now, and that cranks out 422 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque.

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