We’ve discussed at length Volvo’s great plan for SPA-2 to be ICE, HEV, PHEV and EV during the assumed transition. CMA ahead of this offered the same capability. Then their confidence in 2021 to cancel the the ICE versions and just go EV. Then the pivot to need ICE actually and to make most but not all SPA cars for longer heavily facelifted and updated. We’ve seen the new XC90. More will follow with 10 new and updated models in the next 2 years. It’s going to get busy! Looking forward to seeing all the updates and new models!
Volvo To Unveil 10 New And Updated Models By 2026 | Carscoops
Whilst Geely is China based and a place where EVs are well ahead of the rest of the world with battery supply chains at least 10 years ahead in maturity than everywhere else, it has been very interesting to see one after the other Chinese OEMs offer large battery ‘long range’ PHEVs and range extender models too. Despite the big EV push. Western brands, oddly in a world with less developed battery supply chains and worse charging infrastructure decided that EV only would be fine.
Now we see pretty much every OEM scrambling or having scrambled or for some yet to scramble to keep ICE models running longer, adding ICE and PHEV to new products and abandoning EV only plans.
For Geely their SEA platform from the get go was to be from A segment to commercial vehicles but interestingly from the launch event it was said to support range extender functionality too.
Geely updated CMA to CMA 2.0 with larger batteries for long range PHEVs. Then Geely Starship concept SUV debuted in 2024 with a “new platform”… but offering PHEV, range extender and EV. But not on CMA 2.0. Instead it’s also SEA based. So yeah SEA can, as was said at launch, support range extender but a new aspect is is supports PHEV too.
and now Lotus is the next to pivot from its EV only future. PHEV and range extender on the way. Interestingly it seems for already launched EVs too of the Eletre sedan and Emeya. Plus the mid-size Lotus SUV too. Question is, SEA may be capable of that but were those products locked into being EV only so is there really the capability to easily offer PHEV and range extender versions now? I hope so!
More product plans re-written!
SPA-2 can offer PHEV. Did the ES90 and the 3rd SPA-2 sibling get far enough along before the SPA-2 became EV only to now be able to pivot back again. Given the original launch schedule and the timing of the cancellation of ICE versions EX90 was certainly well developed and likely with running ICE prototype versions too. I’d think as CAD at least these versions existed for ES90 and 3rd sibling too.
SPA-3 is SPA-2 with a new electrical system? and megacasting?
SPA-3 is SEA in Volvo form? and megacasting?
EX60 built in Torslanda is certainly getting megacasting. The first Volvo to do so?
I remember the debate but can’t remember if anyone had some robust conclusive info as to the answer? Either way, both platforms have the capability to offer ICE, PHEV again. Fortunately!
Geely seemed to hedge its bets more but continuing to offer ICE-MHEV, HEV, PHEV, long range PHEV and EV and now range extender. Great product planning and insight? Or lack of a coherent plan across too many teams and a lack of conviction to commit in a certain direction? Volvo in contrast took a decision and opted to drop ICE and go EV. Now having to change course as above with continued updated SPA models.
Geely had also had many more hybrid iterations than Volvo. From DCT with a built in motor (also in the CMA XC40 T5) to CMA based HEV, port injected VEA Miller cycle engines, a further generation of HEV and PHEV with yet another one using 3 speed DHT, EM-F, EM-P and now EM-i as well. A lot of development by Geely but short production runs meaning R&D costs may only just have been covered and missing the phase of volume that just generates good margin once the R&D costs are paid off. The continuous “doing something completely new” seems wasteful. Other see it as face paced innovation. Volvo in contrast has adopted MHEV from 2021? T8 and T6 PHEV are mild iterations of the system launched in 2014 (albeit battery is a bit bigger, ERAD is more powerful so more typical of first and second generation systems at the pace of development we at eused to). With the SPA facelifts we may be about to see something more substantially different.
Lotus the next to pivot from EV only too
Lotus embraces EREV hybrids as it axes all-electric plan | Autocar