Volvo Cars pulls 2026 outlook as Q3 sales fall 10.7%, Europe holds up

Volvo Cars sold 141,609 cars worldwide in the third quarter of 2026, down 10.7% on a year earlier, and has withdrawn its full-year 2026 outlook for volume and cash flow. The weakness came from China and the US, while Europe held up, which matters to UK buyers because the EX60 is the car Volvo is relying on here. For the wider market picture, see our report on global and European EV sales in August.

The figures come from Volvo’s own sales release, published on 2 October. Volvo said the decline was driven by further deteriorating conditions in China and a slower than expected recovery in the US, while Europe remained resilient.

Where did Volvo’s sales fall?

Region	Q3 2026 sales	Change
Global	141,609	Down 10.7%
Greater China	20,284	Down 40.6%
Americas	30,777	Down 14%
Europe and rest of world	90,548	Up 2%

China is the sharpest drop, which Volvo linked to growing competitive and pricing pressure (just-auto). That is the same pressure that is pushing Chinese carmakers towards export markets, including Britain.

What does withdrawing the outlook mean?

Volvo has said it will not fulfil its previous 2026 statements on volume and cash flow, and has decided not to give any updated short-term forward-looking statement because of the uncertainty. Full third quarter financial results follow on 23 October. Hargreaves Lansdown and TimesLIVE both framed it as a response to China and a slow US rebound.

For a buyer, a withdrawn forecast is not a sign the company is in trouble as a seller of cars in Britain. It is a sign that the company cannot predict volumes in its biggest markets outside Europe. The results on 23 October should show how much the lost China and US volume has cost in earnings, and whether Volvo gives any new guidance for the final quarter.

Is Europe holding up?

Yes. Volvo describes Europe as resilient, with Europe and the rest of the world up 2% to 90,548 cars, and said customer orders for the fully electric EX60 continue to surpass expectations. In the rolling three months to August, the company said fully electric cars made up 29% of its sales and electrified models, including plug-in hybrids, 53.5%.

The EX60 is priced in the UK from £56,860 for the P6 with an 83kWh battery, £59,860 for the P10 AWD with 95kWh, and £64,860 for the P12 (Fleet News). These are list prices before any Electric Car Grant. The P6 and P10 were due for delivery this September, with the P12 following in January 2027. Our EX60 deliveries and prices guide covers which version to pick, and BMW iX3 vs Mercedes GLC vs Volvo EX60 compares it with its rivals.

How does this fit the wider UK picture?

Volvo is one of several brands under pressure from Chinese rivals, as our winners and losers ranking sets out. The smaller EX30 faces keen competition from the Kia EV3.

The wider point is that Volvo’s volume problem sits in China and the US, not in the UK, where it competes in a crowded field of premium electric SUVs. We have found no announced UK price change from Volvo as a result of the Q3 figures, so any deals are speculation for now.

What this means for you

If you are considering an EX60, the news does not change the car or your warranty, and Volvo says European demand for it is strong, which suggests little urgency for it to discount. Ask your dealer about finance support and order timing, and use the 23 October results as a checkpoint.

If you are looking at an EX30 or a used Volvo, a company short of volume elsewhere is more likely to want sales here, so it is worth asking for terms rather than accepting list price. Check what the Electric Car Grant does and does not cover for your model before you compare quotes.