Volvo Cars and its Ghent manufacturing plant reached a crucial milestone recently as the company’s factory in Belgium started production of the fully electric EX30 small SUV, which was one of Europe’s best-selling electric cars in 2024.
The Ghent plant, which will also start production of the EX30 Cross Country later in the year. The addition of the EX30 to the Ghent production line will result in around 350 new jobs at the plant, bringing total employment to almost 6,600 people. Together with the Torslanda plant, it is one of two car manufacturing plants operated by Volvo Cars in Europe, with a third under construction in Slovakia.
“The EX30 is crucial for us as we continue to strengthen our position in the premium EV market in Europe,” said Francesca Gamboni, chief manufacturing and supply chain officer for Volvo Cars. “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. Our flexible global footprint contributes to our resilience, allowing us to adjust our manufacturing plans with agility.”
To make EX30 production possible in Ghent, the company made investments worth around EUR 200 million in its Belgian facility in recent years. Wide-ranging changes to the plant include the addition of a completely new car platform, the installation of almost 600 new or refurbished robots, an extension of the battery hall, a new door production line as well as a new battery pack assembly line.
Apart from the EX30, the Ghent plant also builds other electrified models – the fully electric EX40 and EC40 as well as the XC40 and V60 hybrid models. In 2024, it built a little over 186,000 cars.
