by SAVIOUS KWINIKA
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – VOLVO has made South African motoring history with the EX30 Cross Country, which has become the first fully electric vehicle (EV) to conquer the legendary Sani Pass—a treacherous mountain route long regarded as a proving ground for 4×4 endurance and driver skill.
The achievement marks 56 years since the first Volvo scaled the same pass in 1969, reaffirming the Swedish marque’s legacy of engineering resilience—this time powered entirely by electricity.
The EX30 Cross Country tackled the steep gradients, rocky switchbacks, and loose gravel of the Drakensberg’s most iconic route, demonstrating that electric mobility is no longer confined to urban environments.
Adding to the symbolism, the vehicle charged at South Africa’s highest solar-powered EV station, located at 1,566 metres at Premier Resort Sani Pass.
Installed by local charging specialist CHARGE, the solar unit enabled what Volvo calls a “solar-to-solar journey,” underscoring the potential of renewable energy to support adventure travel in even the country’s most remote regions.
“The ascent of Sani Pass by the EX30 Cross Country is a defining moment for electric mobility in South Africa,” said Grant Locke, Managing Director of Volvo Car South Africa.
“It proves that electric vehicles can conquer tough terrain while powered by clean energy.”
Compact yet formidable, the 315 kW EX30 Cross Country combines Scandinavian design with off-road agility, reinforcing Volvo’s ambition to blend sustainability with performance.
This milestone comes amid intensifying global EV competition, driven largely by Chinese automakers such as BYD, NIO, and Geely, whose aggressive pricing and rapid technological innovation are reshaping the electric landscape.
For established brands like Volvo—part of China’s Geely Group—the EX30 represents both a response to and a beneficiary of that competitive surge.
Volvo’s achievement on Sani Pass signals more than technical prowess; it’s a declaration that electric vehicles are ready for real adventure.
As South Africa’s charging infrastructure expands, the automaker’s feat demonstrates that the future of off-road exploration can be both thrilling and sustainable.
– CAJ News