70 years ago, Volvo sent a PV444 over to the United States with modest ambitions and even more modest equipment, and few could have predicted how deeply the Scandinavian brand would embed itself into American automotive culture.
Today, Volvo builds the all-electric EX90 flagship right here in the U.S., delivers seven usable seats with proper three-point belts for everyone on board, and offers performance levels that would have sounded unrealistic back in the 1950s. That context matters because it demonstrates how seriously Volvo has always treated evolution in the American market, and we have covered Volvo’s expansion in the United States extensively over the past year.
The Swedish brand, of course, is also renowned for building some of the safest cars in the world, with a long list of innovations to its name that eventually became industry standards. From early advances in occupant protection to broader safety systems designed to reduce real-world risk, Volvo has consistently been a key innovator with solutions that later spread across the industry.
Local production Stateside is a big part of the brand’s next chapter. Volvo’s decision to assemble the XC60, its best-selling model globally, at its facility in South Carolina, is not only about better positioning the brand more competitively against other European luxury automakers that already build vehicles in the U.S., but it is also a direct response to factors like U.S. tariffs and a volatile market.
For you, the consumer, what all this means is better pricing stability, fewer supply chain disruptions, and vehicles designed around American driving habits rather. The addition of a next-generation hybrid, which is being developed specifically for the U.S. market, further reinforces that intent. This anniversary year, Volvo sold its five millionth vehicle in the United States, a reminder of how established the brand truly is.
Also, you cannot talk about Volvo in America without talking about wagons. While wagons were once common across the U.S., it was Volvo was instrumental in keepnig rge format relevant, right through into the modern era.
Volvo’s first wagon in the U.S. was the iconic Duett PV445. Models like the iconic 240 and 740 wagons became staples by being practical, spacious, and famously carrying that tank-like build quality. The 850 wagon rewrote expectations by pairing real performance with everyday usability, especially in T-5R form. The V70 R carried that idea forward, while the XC70 Cross Country showed that a wagon could handle poor roads and harsh weather without pretending to be an SUV.
Speaking of SUVs, given their popularity, the announcement that final U.S. orders for the current generation wagons will be taken early next year, with Volvo V60 Cross Country production ending in April 2026, truly marks the end of a genuinely glorious era in America. Orders remain open until late January 2026, with limited inventory expected afterward. It is worth noting that this is not the end of the line for Volvo wagons, as they will continue to be sold in other global markets where demand remains strong.
That said, the wagon format is not disappearing entirely. At the performance end, interest is clearly returning, with the Audi RS6 Avant and the returning BMW M5 Touring showing real demand, while in the luxury space, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Wagon has remained a steady presence. Volvo helped define what wagons meant to American drivers, and even as it adapts to today’s market realities, that legacy remains firmly intact.
Images: Volvo
