00:15 06-05-2026

Volvo rejects heated seat subscriptions as EX60 EV debuts

Volvo refuses to charge subscription fees for heated seats, debuting the all-new EX60 electric crossover with 800V architecture and 10-year battery warranty.

Volvo has come out against nickel-and-diming customers with subscriptions for basic car features. In an interview with Motor1 Italy, commercial director Erik Severinson argued that someone spending around €80,000 on a premium vehicle shouldn't have to fork out an extra €5 a month for heated seats, a function that's widely available even in more affordable cars.

At the same time, Volvo isn't ditching the subscription model entirely. According to the executive, paid services can be justified when they involve truly valuable digital packages—such as enhanced connectivity, a suite of driver assistance systems, or software features that evolve over time. The thinking is simple: premium-segment customers should feel looked after, not receive a bill for every minor feature.

The interview coincided with the debut of the Volvo EX60, one of the brand's most important electric crossovers. Series production has already started at the Torslanda plant near Gothenburg, with the first customer deliveries expected in early summer 2026. The EX60 is the first Volvo built on the new SPA3 platform, which uses an 800-volt electrical architecture.

To produce the EX60, Volvo made significant upgrades to the factory. The company poured roughly 10 billion Swedish kronor (close to €1 billion) into megacasting, a new battery assembly area, a modernized paint shop, and final assembly. Volvo believes such moves should lower production complexity and help bring the cost of an EV closer to that of a plug-in hybrid. Battery cells for the EX60 come from Chinese suppliers Sunwoda and CATL, but the pack itself is assembled at Torslanda. An important detail is the 10-year battery warranty, which should alleviate buyer anxiety about battery durability. Still, questions about megacasting repairability and body repair costs will remain key concerns for insurers and owners.