C40 Recharge

Make
Volvo
Segment
SUV

A new era for Volvo began this week with the reveal of the new coupe-style C40 Recharge crossover, the Swedish firm's second fully electric car after the XC40 Recharge. Both models share the same Compact Modular Architecture, but the XC40 Recharge is the first Volvo designed to be electric only. By 2030, Volvo will only sell electric cars and will continue expanding its EV lineup. Speaking with Autocar, Volvo boss Hakan Samuelsson hinted that more coupe-style crossovers are coming.

"Cars that are more streamlined but are still high is something we can expect, because being streamlined is more important with electric cars, but people really are fond of high seating positions," he said, adding that future models will have "softer rooflines."

But while Volvo's SUV lineup will expand, its sedan and wagon ranges will shrink. The CEO didn't say which models could be discontinued, adding that Volvo needs to "move from wagons and sedans" and add "more SUV types of higher electric vehicles" to its lineup. This strategy isn't surprising when you consider Volvo's popular XC40, XC60, and XC90 SUVs make up a whopping 75 percent of sales.

Joining the XC40 Recharge and C40 Recharge in the future will be a new compact SUV called either the XC20 or C20 based on Geely's new SEA platform.

For the first time in its model history, the next-generation XC90 will be offered with a fully electric powertrain. By 2025, Volvo will offer seven electric models, which will make up half of its sales.

While Volvo will initially focus on capitalizing on the demand for electric SUVs, the Swedish automaker will still sell sedans and wagons in the future, but "probably not as many." It's not all bad news for sedan and wagon lovers, though. Samuelsson hinted that a "lower car could also be really interesting, especially as we go electric and need lower air resistance. Definitely don't count out the wagon."