Overwhelming Demand Pushes Volvo To Ramp Up XC40 Production

Published May 28, 2018
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With over 80,000 bookings and counting, Volvo needs more shifts to keep up with demand

Having driven the Volvo XC40 in Hyderabad recently, we know that the Volvo XC40 has the potential to compete with established rivals such as the Audi Q3, BMW X1 and the Mercedes-Benz GLA. The boxy styling, a 2.0-litre diesel motor with enough poke and a plethora of convenience and safety features will ensure it gets the attention of moneyed youngsters looking for something different, as it does in the European and Chinese markets. Launched in late 2017, the first-ever Volvo to win the European Car of the Year in March this year has only received over 80,000 orders worldwide. Now, Volvo has announced that it will expand production of the baby SUV to keep up with the overwhelming demand.

Read: 2018 Volvo XC40: First Drive Review

In a statement, the Swedish carmaker said that it will ramp up production at its manufacturing facilities in Ghent, Belgium and Luqiao, China during the first-half of 2019. With the outgoing S60 sedan and V60 estate set to exit the assembly lines soon, the Ghent facility will have enough resources to produce more XC40s. This facility will also manufacture cars for its sister brand Lynk & Co, a company which hopes to replace the car retail experience with a subscription service across the world.

Check Out: Volvo XC40 In Pictures

Currently, the XC40 is the sole model to be based on Volvo’s latest CMA (Compact Modular Architecture) platform. However, the carmaker says that more models will join the lineup soon. However, it has categorically stated that the V40 hatchback will be ditched in favour of an estate akin to the V60 and V90. Apart from this, it will also launch a new compact sedan likely to be called the S40. The new sedan will borrow design cues from the 40.2 concept pictured below.