Volvo’s XC40 Sets Sail For The Indian EV Market

As the electric vehicle trend catches up in India and companies gear up with new launches, Volvo is set to introduce its first EV in India.

XC40, the company’s first-ever fully electric car was launched in October last year and is set to hit the Indian roads by late 2021 or early 2022, as reported by Moneycontrol.com. The car is built on a compact modular architecture platform (CMA).

Reports state that the CMA platform defines the design language, engineering concepts, safety standards, powertrains, and tech of the vehicle. For the customer, it reduces the costs of the car, allows for faster development of new models, and ensures that those new models are built on proven technology.

The XC40 Recharge version has a range of over 400 km in the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test. When using a fast charger, the system can recoup 80% of the capacity in 40 minutes, stated the company.

Currently, Volvo sells the XC40 car with a petrol engine in India. The diesel version was discontinued recently.

Inc42 reached out to Volvo for an official comment but did not receive it till the time of publishing.

The luxury car-maker competes with brands such as Mercedes-Benz and Audi, both of which are also set to launch their EVs in India this year. Popular global electric vehicle brand, Tesla has also been reported to enter the Indian market this year. At present, Mahindra Electric and Tata Motors have heavily invested in the EV industry in India with a focus on hybrid versions.

The Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV) states that in FY2019, total EV sales in India crossed the 7,50,000 units mark and reached a total of 7,59,600 units. This includes electric two-wheelers (1,26,000), electric three-wheelers (6,30,000) and electric passenger vehicles (3,600), which translates into electric two-wheelers witnessing triple-digit growth of 130% year-on-year.

From bikes to cars and even eplanes, the country is witnessing a manifold increase in interest towards EVs as companies develop newer models. The government is also focusing on the implementation of charging stations. As Inc42 reported earlier, state-run Energy Efficiency Service Ltd (EESL), in collaboration with South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), set up the first EV public charging station in South Delhi. The duo plans to set up 75 such charging stations across South Delhi to not only boost EVs but also make them more convenient for the users.