Volvo To Focus On Electrifying Current Range Over Launching New Models

Volvo has revealed that it won’t launch any all-new models between now and 2020 and instead focus on electrifying its existing range.

Speaking to Autocar, Volvo’s Europe, Middle East and Africa boss Lex Kerssemakers said that the Swedish marque is aiming to have 25 per cent of its annual sales to be electric models by 2025. One of the first cars off the ranks in this plan will be a hybrid variant of the XC40. Shortly after that model arrives, Volvo will introduce an all-electric variant too.

Meanwhile, Polestar is also progressing with the hybrid 1 coupe and is soon set to introduce a second car, this time an electric model resembling Volvo’s Concept 40.2 from 2016.

It was previously reported that this 40.2-based production model would be badged as a Volvo but that may no longer be the case. Either way, development of the coupe-like hatchback is already underway and that the vehicle will arrive with a modular battery system. Volvo has yet to confirm what exact range the model will achieve but said it is targeting a figure of around 310 miles (500 km).

A selection of all-electric vehicles are coming

In 2017, it was discovered that Volvo had applied to trademark the names P5, P6, P8, P9, and P10 for “vehicles and conveyances; Electric vehicles.” It is widely assumed that the automaker will attach these names to electric versions of existing models e.g. XC90 P5, for example.

Discussing potential new models Volvo may be interested in launching in the coming years, Kerssemakers said both a coupe and convertible are interesting prospects.

“It would be nice to have a convertible or a coupe. It’s the cream on the cake but you don’t need it to survive,” he said.