The much-anticipated US debut of the 2025 Volvo EX30 battery electric subcompact SUV, which is poised to become the brand's most budget-friendly electric vehicle (EV), has encountered an unexpected hurdle as the company has reportedly postponed the commencement of EX30 reservations by around a couple of months.

As per some media reports, the start of reservations for the 2025 Volvo EX30 has been pushed back to January 2024. Earlier, it was scheduled for November this year. This unexpected delay has implications, as the EX30 e-SUV has been withdrawn from contention for the 2024 North American Car, Truck & Utility of the Year (NACTOY) awards.

While nothing has been mentioned about the reasons for the unexpected delay, Volvo has informed NACTOY about the delay and its subsequent decision to pull the EX30 from making its presence felt at NACTOY. According to Volvo Car USA spokesperson Russell Datz, the delay in the China-made EV's on-sale date will extend beyond NACTOY's deadline, which prompted the automaker to withdraw the vehicle from the competition.

In a communication to NACTOY jurors, President Jeff Gilbert revealed that the first customer deliveries of the e-SUV mightn’t occur until well into next year, possibly not until the summer. It aligns with the German brand’s previously announced launch timeline of July.

If not withdrawn, the EX30 would have faced a really stiff competition for the 2024 North American Utility of the Year Award, as it would have to compete with the likes of the all-electric Kia EV9 and Genesis GV70.

While the exact cause of the delay remains unknown, the move is quite unusual in an industry where a number of automakers initiate reservation processes months or even years ahead of the actual launch of a vehicle. A request to the automaker for a clarification didn’t get any response.

The 2025 Volvo EX30, which is now expected to make debut sometime in the mid of next year, will comes with a starting price tag of $36,245 (including $1,295 shipping). It will be presented as an enticing option for those seeking an entry-level e-SUV. Boasting a single-motor rear-wheel-drive (RWD) configuration with 268 horsepower and 253 pound-feet of torque, this e-SUV relies on a 64-kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery for an EPA-estimated driving range of 275 miles.

Those who want enhanced performance, the Twin Motor Performance variant of the EV will deliver a robust 422 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque through its dual-motor all-wheel-drive (AWD) powertrain. However, the premium over the base model comes with a starting price of $46,195 (including $1,295 shipping).