Global demand for Volvo XC40 hits 80,000, Malaysian debut soon?



In January 2018, Volvo reported that orders for the Volvo XC40 exceeded 20,000 units globally. Four months down the road, that number has quadrupled to 80,000 units worldwide! This has led to Volvo Cars’ decision to expand production for the XC40 in Europe and China in order to meet the overwhelming demand.

“The XC40’s success has surpassed even our highest expectations,” said President and CEO of Volvo Cars, Håkan Samuelsson. “The small SUV segment is the fastest-growing segment in the industry now, and with these additional CMA-based models we expect to benefit further from that growth.”

That number is expected to grow even further following the successful market debut of the XC40 in China at the 2018 Beijing Auto Show in April. Volvo will also begin production of the XC40 at its LuQiao plant in China in the first half of 2019, highlighting the popularity of the compact SUV in the world’s fastest-growing market for SUVs.

Introduced in late 2017, the XC40 sits on the firm’s new Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) platform that underpins future compact Volvo and Lynk & Co models. The compact SUV went on to earn the prestigious title of 2018 European Car of the Year.

Not too long ago, Volvo debuted its first-ever three-cylinder engine on the XC40; a 1.4-litre turbocharged transversely mounted in-line three petrol mill pushing out 156 hp and 265 Nm of torque. The new T3 Drive-E engine was designed for the Twin Engine plug-in hybrid setup which will be introduced at a later date, in line with the brand’s grand scheme to electrify all Volvo cars from 2019 onwards.

We had our first encounter with the XC40 at the 2018 Singapore Motor Show and Volvo Car Malaysia (VCM), has expressed its intentions to introduce the XC40 to the Malaysian market. Question to you dear readers, how would you dress your ideal XC40 – with the Momentum package, R-Design or Inscription?


IMAGE GALLERY

Volvo XC40 Inscription T5 AWD