Volvo Car Australia is taking the fight to the internal combustion engine in its vehicle range and promises to go fully electric by 2026.

The shift is four years ahead of the Swedish parent company’s global target for 2030 and means Volvo’s local operations need to pick up the pace to replace the popular petrol-powered XC SUV range.

Until now, Volvo’s only pure EV has been the XC40 Recharge, alongside a range of hybrid models, and there’s a long waiting list. Last week it launched the C40 Recharge, with a single electric motor and front-wheel drive, and dual electric motors with four-wheel drive. It is also the first Volvo to be completely leather-free.

It’s one of five new EVs the company plans to launch in Australia before the deadline, including a smaller electric city SUV, dubbed the EX30 in 2023, as well as the EX90, a seven-seat replacement for the XC90. in 2024.

The XC40 Recharge costs about $53,000 plus on-road costs, the C40 from $75,000 plus on-road costs for the single engine, from about $88,000 ride for the twin engine.

EV spinout sibling Polestar reportedly has over 1,500 orders for the cheaper Polestar 2 pending fulfillment as local demand for electric vehicles soars

Volvo Car Australia MD Stephen Connor said nearly 80% of Volvo’s Australian sales will be all-electric by 2025

“The decision to sell only electric cars from 2026 makes perfect sense and we believe it will give us a strategic advantage in the Australian market. The final piece of the puzzle will be to convert the last 20% of our customers to an all-electric future by 2026,” he said.

“I am confident we can achieve this, and go even further to achieve our ambition to sell 20,000 all-electric cars in Australia each year.”

Connor said the shift four years ahead of Volvo’s global timeframe was a reflection of local demand for EVs.

“The earlier deadline allows us to meet the expectations of our Australian customers,” he said.

“Sustainability is now as important to us as safety, with climate action being the top priority. Australian consumers are early adopters of new technologies and are increasingly embracing all-electric cars as part of a practical response to combating climate change.

“There is no long-term future for combustion engine cars. So instead of investing in a shrinking company, we choose to invest in the future, which is all-electric.”

connor said: Volvo is currently the fastest growing brand in the Australian luxury SUV segment, with record sales over the past four years.