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(Reuters) – Volvo Cars will postpone U.S. deliveries of its EX30 electric car as it focuses on expanding production of the compact SUV outside China in the wake of increased tariffs on exports from the country, a spokesman said on Wednesday.
Volvo (OTC:) had previously said it would start selling the EX30 in the United States later this year, but a spokesman told Reuters on Wednesday that deliveries would not begin until 2025, partly due to the imposition of tariffs of more than $100. %. on Chinese electric vehicle imports by the US government.
US President Joe Biden unveiled sharp increases in tariffs on Chinese imports last month, including more than 100% on electric vehicles, up from 27.5% previously.
Later, the European Commission also said it would impose additional duties of up to 38.1% on imported Chinese electric vehicles from July, threatening retaliation from Beijing, which has said it will take measures to protect its interests.
Volvo, the Swedish luxury brand owned by China’s Geely, has begun building the EX30 in Zhangjiakou, China, and said last year it would expand production of the small SUV to a factory in Belgium starting in 2025.
A Volvo spokesman said Wednesday that the Belgian plant will primarily serve North America and Europe.
