Last week Volvo, which is aiming to go fully electric by 2030, produced its last-ever diesel-powered passenger vehicle and promptly donated the car—an XC90 SUV—to a museum.
That would be the company's own World of Volvo, set to open Sunday, April 14, in the automaker's hometown of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Replacing the now-closed Volvo Museum in a different location in the city, World of Volvo features a permanent exhibit that takes visitors through the history of the company, starting with the original ÖV 4 model released in 1927, continuing with the square-fronted safety stalwarts your mind probably conjures when you hear the name "Volvo," and peeking into the brand's all-electric future.
Among the classic cars on display will be many from the collection of the former museum, which, notes gearhead site Autoblog, housed the above specimens as well as sleek coupes, racing cars, and ahead-of-their-time creations such as the VESC (for Volvo Experimental Safety Car), "a rolling laboratory of technology with anti-lock brakes, airbags, impact-absorbing bumpers, and a massive rear-view camera that transferred footage to a screen on the dashboard." That was back in 1972.
The new exhibit will also have interactive experiences, such as a "custom-built wind tunnel" and full-size electric construction equipment that visitors can try out.
(World of Volvo in Gothenburg, Sweden | Credit: World of Volvo)
The World of Volvo complex is situated about 2km (1 mile) southeast of Götaplatsen, the large public square at one end of Gothenburg's main boulevard, Avenyn.
Other than its permanent exhibit, the five-story World of Volvo building also has space for cultural events and lectures, conferences, temporary exhibits, and a restaurant.
Timed tickets for the central Volvo exhibition can be purchased online. Admission costs 225 Swedish krona ($21) for visitors ages 19 and older; 180 krona ($17) for kids ages 13 to 18, students with valid ID, and seniors ages 65 and older; and 150 krona ($14) for kids ages 7 to 12. Admission is free for kids ages 6 and younger.
For more information go to WorldofVolvo.com.
