Production of Volvo EV models is ramping up to meet the goal of being an all-electric company by 2030, but this company is ahead of schedule.
This news doesn’t shock anyone, but Volvo isn’t waiting several years; they are ready to move forward right now. To make this movement forward, dealers will begin to receive more vehicles and should expect to sell many more as EV popularity increases. One plant, located in the United States, is the target of the first ramp-up for this company. This Swedish automaker isn’t holding anything back and is prepared to take the proverbial EV ball and run with it.
Dealers in Attendance Rejoice
A closed-door audience of dealer representatives from North and South America, numbering nearly 800, were told of the new EV plan. This new run of electrified vehicles will begin rolling out as early as next year with the idea to create a doubled throughput rate for these dealers. That will mean twice as many vehicles to sell and twice the profits for each dealership. After the sluggish scramble of the past two years, this is great news for these dealers. Now, it’s time to put this plan into action.
An Aggressive Approach to Greater EV Sales
To sell more electric vehicles, a company needs to build more electric vehicles. The target for this operation for Volvo is the Ridgeville, SC plant. The plant is already hiring more workers to allow more models to be built at this facility. This is the start of how Volvo will ramp up the EV production and offer more models for sale. Currently, this plant is only operating at a fraction of its capacity. The Volvo S60 is built at this plant, but the capacity of this 2.3million-square-foot facility is nearly 150,000 vehicles per year. Just imagine what we’ll have at Volvo dealers if this factory is operating at full capacity.
The first two of the future electric cars, which is all this factory will build going forward, will begin later this year. The Volvo affiliate Polestar will also begin production of an electric crossover at this facility. We expect to see a large new flagship electric crossover coming out of this plant as early as 2023. This is another exciting piece of news for the Volvo brand and for the auto workers in South Carolina with more jobs available to them.
Added Technology from the Safety Master
For generations, Volvo has led the way in terms of safety of its vehicles. That hasn’t changed at all, and some of what Volvo showed its dealer audience are products geared toward improved safety. This brand is leading the way in autonomous driving technology and safety innovations, as it has for a long time and has created new tech that will release for the future. One of these items is the Lidar sensor system created by Luminar Technologies that uses laser light pulses to create precise images of the environment around the car. This system will be integral in the future of Volvo safety tech.
Cabin Space Increases in Volvo EV Models
The Thor’s Hammer lighting design is now one of the signature elements of the Volvo brand. The new battery pack in the EV models will sit under the flat floor, which opens up more cabin area for the passengers inside the vehicle. These changes allow the wheelbase to be expanded, which also creates more interior room. Additionally, the hood and roofline are lowered to enhance aerodynamics without changing the visibility for anyone inside the vehicle. No longer will there be a transmission tunnel, or hump, to cut into the legroom of rear passengers.
What is the New Mix of Electrified Vehicles for Volvo
We see seven new models coming to the Volvo lineup to give us more electrified vehicles. The fully-electric models will be a large crossover, small crossover, sedan, and a pair of activity vehicles shaped like wagons. The plug-in hybrids include a redesigned S90 sedan and a redesigned XC90 crossover SUV. These new models will give us more electric models from this luxury brand that gives us an expanded lineup for the future of what is offered, adhering to the plan to have more of these models by 2030.
What Are the Current Volvo Electric Vehicles?
Right now, there are two electric models in the Volvo lineup. One is the C40 Recharge the other is the XC40 Recharge; see a pattern here. Volvo will use the Recharge name to bring us the electrified lineup of vehicles going forward.
Volvo XC40 Recharge
The XC40 Recharge is an impressive subcompact crossover luxury SUV. This vehicle rides on an all-electric powertrain to give you the performance desired and 223 miles of driving range when the batteries have a full charge. You’ll find this model to be more affordable than some others in the market, but it might not be as exciting to drive as the Audi e-tron, Ford Mustang Mach-E, or Volkswagen ID.4.
Even though this is a subcompact model, the power layout returns 402 horsepower, which makes it pretty impressive. The Pilot Assist is a semi-autonomous driving system that hints at the future of hands-free driving.
Volvo C40 Recharge
You might think the C40 Recharge would be a sedan, but it’s not. Taking away the X from the XC40 model, this Volvo EV is a coupe-like crossover that offers you the sporty design you want when you’re looking for something with a bit more style and flair to it. This means you have the benefits of an SUV with a lower and sleeker design.
Because of the sloped roof, cargo room is limited in this version of the Volvo crossover, which makes using the one cubic-foot front trunk a true benefit to you. You’ll also enjoy the unlimited data plant of the Android-based operating system that receives regular over-the-air software upgrades.
The Future of Volvo is Electrifying
With seven new models on the way, a pair of crossovers that give us dynamic driving, and a new life for an assembly plant in the United States, the future of Volvo EV driving is alive and real. This brand is poised to reach its EV goal well before the 2030 timeframe, which could put pressure on other automakers to do the same.
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