Volvo will reveal its second electric production car, a compact model that will use the same platform as the new XC40 Recharge EV and be produced alongside it at the firm’s Belgian plant, later today (Tuesday).
Volvo has now revealed the C40 Recharge. Click here for full details
The Swedish firm confirmed the reveal of the as-yet-unnamed new model as it outlined its commitment to becoming fully electric by 2030. It has described the EV as "a new model in the 40 Series".
Volvo's second EV will be based on the Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) platform that Volvo and parent firm Geely jointly developed and that's currently used for the XC40, the Polestar 2 and a range of models from Geely and its Lynk&Co brand. The firm also uses the SPA platform for larger models, such as the Volvo XC60.
Volvo models on the CMA platform, which can be used for petrol, plug-in hybrid and fully electric powertrains, are currently produced at the firm’s Ghent factory. Volvo has now pledged to triple its electric production capacity at the plant and says 60% of vehicles produced there will be electric cars by 2022.
Volvo is committed to half of its global sales being fully electric cars by 2025, with the rest hybrids.
Last year, Volvo boss Håkan Samuelsson told Autocar that the firm “realised the need for another small, premium car” with a particular focus on Europe and that there were “plans to do more models of the family”.
While Volvo recently discontinued the V40 family hatchback, it is more likely that the new EV will take the form of a coupé-crossover, with more sporty styling than the XC40. Samuelsson has previously said the firm won't revive the V40, because of its increased focus on premium SUVs, which are more profitable.
Volvo is also working on a more compact EV that will sit below the XC40 and is tipped to take the XC20 name, but this will be based on the new dedicated electric Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) platform that's being developed by Volvo and Geely. The new platform will first be used on the new Lynk&Co Zero, which recently began testing.
Volvo will also launch an electric version of the next-generation XC90 large SUV, due in 2022 on the SPA2 platform.
Along with the expansion of its EV output at Ghent, Volvo is planning to increase its output of electric cars at its other plants. It also intends to begin electric motor assembly at its powertrain plant in Skövde, Sweden.
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