Source: Volvo
Swedish-Chinese carmaker Volvo will debut an all-electric variant of its XC40 SUV by the end of this year, adding another electric car in its push to have half of all its cars using electric drivetrains by 2025.
The plan to release an electric XC40 was confirmed by a representative of the carmaker at a safety event in Gothenburg, Germany last week, according to Automotive News Europe.
It will be the first full-electric vehicle for the Swedish-Chinese brand, which has also launched another fully electric vehicle under its brand Polestar – the eponymously named Polestar 2, which followed its hybrid predecessor launched by Volvo, the original Polestar.
Along with the Polestar 2, Volvo told Automotive News Europe that the XC40 would be ready for sale by 2020.
This is encouraging for Australians – Volvo Australia has already said they are keen on bringing their electric vehicles to Australia starting with the Polestar 2 which will be built in right hand drive from the get go.
After the XC60, the XC40 is Volvo’s most popular model globally, and the most popular model for Volvo in Australia, selling well despite falling sales in other according to V-Facts.
An electric XC40 could possibly also go well here in Australia. SUVs already represent one of the most popular auto segments and Volvo has been doing a roaring trade with sales up 42% despite premium car sales hurtling downwards, says Car Advice.
As for specifications, all that is known is that the electric XC40 will get the same Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) that Volvo is using on the Polestar 2, that it developed with China’s Geely.
Volvo has previously confirmed that it would also introduce a plug-in hybrid XC40, first with a T5 twin engine to be followed by the T4 twin engine.
Bridie Schmidt is associate editor for The Driven, sister site of Renew Economy. She has been writing about electric vehicles since 2018, and has a keen interest in the role that zero-emissions transport has to play in sustainability. She has participated in podcasts such as Download This Show with Marc Fennell and Shirtloads of Science with Karl Kruszelnicki and is co-organiser of the Northern Rivers Electric Vehicle Forum. Bridie also owns a Tesla Model Y and has it available for hire on evee.com.au.
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