Volvo To Build Next V40 In Belgium, Could Build Other Cars In South Carolina

Getting ready for its big wave of new models, Volvo is putting its factory plans in order.

Volvo Cars CEO Hakan Samuelsson said Friday the successor to the current V40 would be built at the company’s Ghent, Belgium facility, according to Autonews Europe.

The next-generation V40, due around 2018 or 2019, is slated to be one of the first Volvos to receive a new platform called CMA, jointly developed with Chinese parent Geely for a new range of Geely and Volvo compact cars. A compact crossover and a successor to the long-dead S40 sedan are also expected to be part of the range.

Meanwhile, Volvo is apparently eyeing South Carolina as the home for its recently announced U.S. factory to build cars based on the SPA modular platform, such as the new Volvo XC90 and the future -60 series vehicles.

According to Reuters, something called “Project Soter” has been identified and a permit applied in Berkeley County for a manufacturing facility that could create up to 4,000 jobs within 10 years. Georgia and Alabama are two other states that have been rumored to land the Volvo plant.

Volvo is expected to make a decision by the end of May on a U.S. plant location.