Volvo Cars has begun production of its fully electric EX30 small SUV at the Ghent manufacturing plant in Belgium.
The Ghent plant will also begin manufacturing EX30 Cross Country later this year.
The addition of EX30 production to the Ghent plant has created approximately 350 new jobs, increasing the total employment to nearly 6,600 people.
Volvo Cars chief manufacturing and supply chain officer Francesca Gamboni said: “The EX30 is crucial for us as we continue to strengthen our position in the premium EV market in Europe.
“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.”
In the recent years, the company has invested around €200m ($227m) in the Ghent facility to facilitate the production of EX30.
The investment led to the addition of a new car platform, installation of nearly 600 new or refurbished robots, an extension of the battery hall, a new door production line, and a battery pack assembly line.
According to the company, the production of EX30 in Europe supports the EU’s sustainability and competitiveness agenda.
This small SUV was introduced in late 2023, and is claimed by the company to be “one of Europe’s best-selling electric cars in 2024”.
The Ghent plant in Belgium and Torslanda facility in Sweden now produce ten different electric and hybrid models in Europe.
Volvo Car Ghent plant manager Stefan Fesser added: “Following a decision in autumn 2023 to bring production of the EX30 to Ghent, we were able to industrialise the new model in record time.
“Thanks to the engagement and collaboration of the entire Ghent team, we cut the industrialisation time in half. Today, we are extremely proud to welcome the EX30 and demonstrate that new technology and innovation enable us to react more flexibly to market demands.”
The Ghent factory has been operational since 1965 and is claimed to be the only remaining “fully developed” car manufacturing facility in the country.
The company’s third car manufacturing plant in Europe is under construction in Slovakia.
In addition to the EX30 variant, the Ghent plant produces other electrified models, including the fully electric EX40 and EC40, as well as the XC40 and V60 hybrid models.
In 2024, the Ghent factory manufactured over 186,000 cars.
This latest announcement comes as Volvo Cars reported a 10% drop in global sales for March 2025 due to lower sales of fully electric vehicles.
