The assembly of the world's first diesel plug-in hybrid has been successfully integrated on the same production line as the regular powered V60, V70, XC70, S80 and XC90 models at the Torslanda plant in Gothenburg.

‘We are first in the industry to integrate a plug-in hybrid in an established production flow together with other car models,’ said Peter Mertens, senior vice president Research and Development at Volvo Car Corporation. ‘The integration in the standard production flow gives the plug-in hybrid buyer the possibility to choose in principle all options available for the standard V60,’ he added.

All the additional equipment and additional systems in the plug-in hybrid have led to parts of the final assembly line being rebuilt and modified. The adaption makes it possible to smoothly integrate the assembly of over 300 more parts that are included in the plug-in hybrid compared to an equivalent V60.

The Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid is the synthesis of close cooperation between Volvo Car Corporation and Swedish electricity supplier Vattenfall. The two companies have financed the development project jointly.

‘The V60 Plug-in Hybrid is a unique car, a historic step, not only for Volvo Car Corporation but for the entire car industry. The first year's 1,000-car batch has sold out even before the car has reached the showrooms and the order books for next year's cars are already filling up,’ Mertens concluded.