The North American Car, Truck, and Utility of the Year (NACTOY) awards are a big deal this time of year, as they can significantly boost a model’s fortunes on the market. The automotive journalist-led assessments have requirements on when in the year vehicles can be released to qualify for an award. The Volvo EX30 was on the list until yesterday when NACTOY President Jeff Gilbert notified the group that the automaker had requested its new electric SUV be removed from the running because it won’t arrive until deep into 2024.
Volvo told NACTOY that the “first vehicles will not be delivered to customers until well into 2024, perhaps not until summer.” A Volvo spokesperson confirmed the move, saying that the company wants to be “fully transparent.” Reservations were expected to open in November but were pushed back to January, which moves the SUV’s release past NACTOY’s cutoff date.
The EX30 will likely make significant waves, even without a NACTOY award. It’s expected to land with a price tag in the mid-$30,000 range and will deliver impressive specs for the price. Volvo has also promised extensive safety equipment and high-end tech features in the new SUV.
Other vehicles in the EX30’s category include the Kia EV9 and Genesis GV70. Jurors replaced the Volvo with the Hyundai Kona EV, stacking three vehicles from the same parent automaker against each other.
[Image: Volvo]
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