Volvo has reportedly delayed the first deliveries of its EX30 small SUV overseas due to a software issue.

    It’s the second time in the past 12 months that one of the Swedish brand’s electric vehicles (EVs) has been postponed.

    As reported by industry publication Automotive News Europe, Volvo has told its dealers on the continent that the EX30 won’t be delivered to customers until an as-yet unknown fault with its software is rectified.

    “We confirm that Volvo is working tirelessly to resolve the problem,” a memo to Volvo dealers read, reports Automotive News Europe

    “Important progress has been made but the software version 1.2 does not yet meet all the requirements necessary to be released.”

    A spokesperson for Volvo in Europe told the publication the issue has since been resolved, with deliveries of the EX30 now underway in certain markets.

    According to Automotive News Europe, the software update can’t be performed over-the-air (OTA), requiring affected EX30s to be fixed at a physical service centre.

    Australian pricing and specifications for the Volvo EX30 were announced in June 2023, though the electric SUV is yet to arrive in local showrooms – despite first being scheduled to arrive before 2024.

    We’ve contacted Volvo Car Australia to confirm if local launch timing for the EX30 has been affected.

    While the delivery delay will reportedly affect European customers by a handful of weeks – if not days – it’s the second time Volvo has had to push back a new EV’s launch to market.

    In July 2023, the carmaker – which is owned by Chinese giant Geely – pushed back production of the upcoming flagship Volvo EX90 electric SUV, citing software issues surrounding its LiDAR system.

    Despite affecting the model’s rollout in some markets, at the time a Volvo Australia spokesperson said it wouldn’t impact the EX90’s local arrival, which remains slated for the end of 2024 – having previously been pushed back once prior.

    The Volvo EX30 will initially be produced in Chengdu, China before another production line in Ghent, Belgium goes online from 2025.

    Meanwhile, the larger Volvo EX90 is set to be built in both Chengdu and Ridgeville, North Caroline in the US.

    MORE: Everything Volvo EX30

    Jordan Mulach

    Born and raised in Canberra, Jordan has worked as a full-time automotive journalist since 2021, being one of the most-published automotive news writers in Australia before joining CarExpert in 2024.

    Buy and Lease
    Uncover exclusive deals and discounts with a VIP referral to Australia's best dealers
    Uncover exclusive deals and discounts with a VIP referral to Australia's best dealers