Volvo will enhance its line-up of SUVs whereas reducing again on conventional saloons and estates because it shifts to a full electrical line-up by 2030, in line with boss Håkan Samuelsson.
The Swedish agency has grown massively in recent times by means of the success of its XC40, XC60 and XC90 SUVs, which now account for round three-quarters of its gross sales. The agency’s first EV was the XC40 Recharge P8, and it has now unveiled the intently associated C40 Recharge crossover.
Volvo has dedicated to increasing its vary because it switches to a completely electrical line-up.
When requested whether or not Volvo may supply extra coupé-style crossover fashions utilizing the C prefix sooner or later, Samuelsson stated: “I don’t know if we are going to name them C variations, however automobiles which can be extra streamlined however are nonetheless excessive is one thing we will anticipate, as a result of being streamlined is extra essential with electrical automobiles, however folks actually are keen on excessive seating positions. They won’t be so sq. sooner or later however with softer rooflines.”
Samuelsson famous that electrical SUVs supply packaging advantages over electrical variations of saloons however stated that buyer demand is the important thing driving issue.
“Historically, we now have had sedans [saloons], wagons [estates] and SUVs,” he stated. “Now we promote round 75% SUVs, which suggests we’d like extra SUVs. We now have the C40 Recharge, and we’re planning a smaller SUV beneath the 40-series.
“We want much less variants of sedans and wagons; we now have a lot of wagons right this moment, with the V60, V90, Cross Nation, non-Cross County, and a number of saloons large and small, lengthy and extra-long. We have to transfer from wagons and sedans; we are going to nonetheless have them in future, however most likely not as many.
“We want extra SUV varieties of greater electrical autos. That’s the way in which of working proper now and what we now have in our growth pipeline.”
Volvo is creating a compact SUV, which may take the XC20 or C20 title, on mum or dad agency Geely’s new SEA structure, and is engaged on an electrical model of the next-generation XC90. A graphic produced by the agency recommended that it will supply seven electrical fashions by 2025, by which stage it is aiming for half of its gross sales to be of EVs.
Whereas the early focus of Volvo’s EV change will probably be on SUVs, Samuelsson stated the agency will not abandon saloons and estates utterly, hinting that they are going to be “developed and streamlined”.
He stated: “A sensible, decrease automotive may be actually fascinating, particularly as we go electrical and wish decrease air resistance. Undoubtedly don’t rely out the wagon.”
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