Volvo will start building its XC60 in the US next year
The shift highlights the carmaker's exposure to US President Donald Trump's car tariffs as it imports most of its hybrid and electric models from Europe.
XC60 sales in the US rose by nearly 23% in the first six months of 2025, the Gothenburg-based company said, adding the model was most popular among US customers.
Volvo Cars, owned by China's Geely Holding, said earlier this week it was booking an impairment charge of 11.4-billion crowns (R20,894,913,000) in the second quarter related to its ES90 and EX90 models due to tariffs and launch delays.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


eNCA
13 hours ago
- eNCA
Humanoid robots embodiment of China's AI ambitions
Serving craft beer, playing mahjong, stacking shelves and boxing, the dozens of humanoid robots at Shanghai's World AI Conference (WAIC) this weekend were embodiments of China's growing AI prowess and ambition. The annual event is primed at showcasing China's progress in the ever-evolving field of artificial intelligence, with the government aiming to position the country as a world leader on both technology and regulation as it snaps at the United States' heels. Opening the event on Saturday, Premier Li Qiang announced China would set up a new organisation for cooperation on AI governance, warning the benefits of development must be balanced with the risks. But in the cavernous expo next door, the mood was more giddy than concerned. "Demand is currently very strong, whether in terms of data, scenarios, model training, or artificial construction. The overall atmosphere in all these areas is very lively," said Yang Yifan, R&D director at Transwarp, a Shanghai-based AI platform provider. This year's WAIC is the first since a breakthrough moment for Chinese AI this January when startup DeepSeek unveiled an AI model that performed as well as top US systems for an apparent fraction of the cost. Organisers said the forum involved more than 800 companies, showcasing over 3,000 products -- the undeniable crowd pleasers being the humanoid robots and their raft of slightly surreal party tricks. At one booth, a robot played drums, half a beat out of time, to Queen's "We Will Rock You" while a man in safety goggles and a security vest hyped up a giggling crowd. AFP | - Other droids, some dressed in working overalls or baseball caps, manned assembly lines, played curling with human opponents or sloppily served soft drinks from a dispenser. While most of the machines on display were still a little jerky, the increasing sophistication year-on-year was clear to see. The Chinese government has poured support into robotics, an area in which some experts think China might already have the upper hand over the United States. At Hangzhou-based Unitree's stall, its G1 android -- around 130 centimetres tall, with a two-hour battery life -- kicked, pivoted and punched, keeping its balance with relative fluidity as it shadowboxed around a ring. Ahead of the conference's opening, Unitree announced it would launch a full-size humanoid, the R1, for under $6,000. - 'Digital humans' - Most high-tech helpers don't need hardware though. At the expo, AI companions -- in the form of middle-aged businessmen, scantily clad women and ancient warriors -- waved at people from screens, asking how their day was, while other stalls ran demos allowing visitors to create their own digital avatars. Tech giant Baidu on Saturday announced a new generation of technology for its "digital humans" -- AI agents modelled on real people, which it says are "capable of thinking, making decisions, and collaborating". The company recently ran a six-hour e-commerce broadcast hosted by the "digital human" of a well-known streamer and another avatar. The two agents beat the human streamer's debut sales in some categories, Baidu said. Over ten thousand businesses are using the technology already, the department's head Wu Chenxia told AFP. Asked about the impact on jobs -- one of the major concerns raised around widespread AI adoption -- Wu insisted that AI was a tool that should be used to improve quality and save time and effort, which still required human input. For now, few visitors to the WAIC expo seemed worried about the potential ramifications of the back-flipping dog robots they were excitedly watching. "When it comes to China's AI development, we have a comparatively good foundation of data and also a wealth of application scenarios," said Transwarp's Yang. "There are many more opportunities for experimentation."


eNCA
14 hours ago
- eNCA
Trump, EU chief seek deal in transatlantic tariffs standoff
US President Donald Trump and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen prepared to meet Sunday in Scotland in a push to resolve a months-long transatlantic trade standoff that is going down to the wire. Trump has said he sees a 50-50 chance of reaching a deal with the European Union, having vowed to hit dozens of countries with punitive tariffs unless they hammer out a pact with Washington by August 1. The EU is currently facing the threat of an across-the-board levy of 30 percent from that date. Von der Leyen's European Commission, negotiating on behalf of the EU's member countries, has been pushing hard for a deal to salvage a trading relationship worth an annual $1.9 trillion in goods and services. Any deal with the United States will need approval by all 27 member states. EU ambassadors, on a visit to Greenland, were to meet Sunday morning to discuss the latest negotiations -- and again after any accord. Sunday's sit-down between Trump and the EU chief was to take place at 4:30 pm (1530 GMT) in Turnberry, on Scotland's southwestern coast, where Trump owns a luxury golf resort. The 79-year-old American leader said Friday he hoped to strike "the biggest deal of them all" with the EU. "I think we have a good 50-50 chance" of a deal, the president said, citing sticking points on "maybe 20 different things". He praised von der Leyen as "a highly respected woman" -- a far cry from his erstwhile hostility in accusing the EU of existing to "screw" the United States. But late-night EU talks with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Saturday to hammer out the final details were "combative at times," The Financial Times reported. As of Saturday evening, there were "still quite a few open questions" -- notably on pharmaceutical sector tariffs, said one EU diplomat. Tariff levels on the auto sector were also crucial for the Europeans -- notably France and Germany -- and the EU has been pushing for a compromise on steel that could allow a certain quota into the United States before tariffs would apply. - Baseline 15 percent - According to European diplomats, the deal on the table involves a baseline levy of around 15 percent on EU exports to the United States -- the level secured by Japan -- with carve-outs for critical sectors including aircraft, lumber and spirits excluding wine. The EU would commit to ramp up purchases of US liquefied natural gas, along with a series of investment pledges. AFP/File | ROMAIN PERROCHEAU Hit by multiple waves of tariffs since Trump reclaimed the White House, the EU is currently subject to a 25-percent levy on cars, 50 percent on steel and aluminium, and an across-the-board tariff of 10 percent, which Washington threatens to hike to 30 percent in a no-deal scenario. The EU has focused on getting a deal with Washington to avoid sweeping tariffs that would further harm its sluggish economy, with retaliation as a last resort. While 15 percent would be much higher than pre-existing US tariffs on European goods -- at 4.8 percent -- it would mirror the status quo, with companies already facing an additional flat rate of 10 percent. Should talks fail, EU states have greenlit counter tariffs on $109 billion (93 billion euros) of US goods including aircraft and cars to take effect in stages from August 7. Brussels is also drawing up a list of US services to potentially target. Beyond that, countries like France say Brussels should not be afraid to deploy a so-called trade "bazooka" -- EU legislation designed to counter coercion through trade measures which involves restricting access to its market and public contracts. But such a step would mark a major escalation with Washington. - Ratings dropping - Trump has embarked since returning to power on a campaign to reshape US trade with the world. But polls suggest the American public is unconvinced, with a recent Gallup survey showing his approval rating at 37 percent -- down 10 points from January. Having promised "90 deals in 90 days," Trump's administration has so far unveiled five, including with Britain, Japan and the Philippines. Early Sunday, ahead of his meeting with Von der Leyen, Trump was out again on the golf course, having spent most of Saturday playing at Turnberry amid tight security. AFP | ANDY BUCHANAN The trip to Scotland has put physical distance between Trump and the scandal around Jeffrey Epstein, the wealthy financier accused of sex trafficking who died in prison in 2019 before facing trial. In his heyday, Epstein was friends with Trump and others in the New York jet-set, but the president is facing backlash from his own MAGA supporters demanding access to the Epstein case files. With the uproar refusing to die down, a headline agreement with the EU -- in addition to bolstering Trump's dealmaker credentials -- could bring a welcome distraction.


The Citizen
16 hours ago
- The Citizen
ES90 a surprise arrival as Volvo reveals rest of 2025 product range
Chinese-owned Swedish brand will have an even split of two hybridised and fully electric products coming to South Africa over the next five months. ES90 has been approved for South Africa before the end of 2025. Image: Volvo Volvo Car South Africa has revealed the remainder of its plans for 2025, with the roll-out of four new models over the next five months. Even propulsion split 'We are committed to offering South African motorists more choice as they make the transition to electric driving,' newly appointed Volvo Car South Africa Managing Director, Grant Locke, said in a statement. ALSO READ: Cross Country trekking Volvo EX30 en-route to South Africa 'These new vehicles, paired with our ongoing investment in our local operations and services, underline the fact that we are here to stay and grow.' Part of the Chinese-owned Swedish brand's reversal on going fully electric before 2030, a split in propulsion methods will be applied for the incoming models; two being hybridised and the other pair fully electric. Models planned EX30 Cross Country Debuting first, the all-electric EX30 Cross Country will make its market premiere next month as the first to wear the Cross Country nameplate since the end of V40 Cross Country production six years ago. EX30 Cross Country will formally debut in August. Image: Volvo Set to become available in flagship Twin Motor Ultra guise only, the EX30 Cross Country will have the same 315kW/543Nm outputs as the regular EX30, but with a reduced range of 427 km. XC60 and XC90 Next in-line, despite an official reveal date still being unknown, the revamped XC60 will make its debut as one of the two mentioned hybridised models. Restyled XC60 has been given the go ahead for the local market. Image: Volvo Likely to join it at the same time is the refreshed XC90 that premiered at the end of last year as the first model to form part of Volvo's decision not to go 100% electric before the end of the decade. As in Europe, both will be offered with mild-hybrid or plug-in hybrid powertrains modelled around the stalwart 2.0-litre turbocharged Drive-E petrol engine. Facelift XC90 will arrive, seemingly, alongside the updated XC60. Image: Volvo In the case of the XC90, range positioning will below the electric-only EX90, while the XC60 will remain above the EX30 and the unchanged XC40. ES90 Rounding the year off, the all-electric ES90 will mark Volvo's return to the sedan segment for the first time since the end of S90 sales some two years ago. The spiritual replacement for the S40 and to some extent, the S60, the ES90 will become the second Volvo after the EX90 to have LiDAR in South Africa, along with a supposed range of 700km. Ruled-out Surprisingly, the facelift S90 has not been given the go-ahead for South Africa, most likely as a result of pricing, possible overlapping with the XC90 and the lack of demand in the premium D-segment. Facelift S90 won't be returning to South Africa soon. Image: Volvo Another no-no is the China-only EM90 based on sister brand Zeekr's 008, and the revived plug-in hybrid XC70 destined only for the People's Republic. NOW READ: Volvo settles upon hybrid and EV future for 10 incoming models