Volvo, as a whole globally, is aiming to become completely carbon-neutral by 2040. To achieve that, it’s committed to reducing overall CO2 emissions by 40% per car by 2025, and then becoming a fully electric company by 2030. But here in Malaysia, the company wants to transition “even faster” than that.
Speaking at today’s launch event for the all-new C40, Volvo Car Malaysia Managing Director, Charles Frump, said that the company is aiming for its Pure Electric EV models to account for 75% of its sales by 2025.
The electrification efforts have already begun for Volvo Car Malaysia, with both the XC40 Recharge Pure Electric and the all-new C40 Recharge Pure Electric being locally assembled at the company’s plant in Shah Alam. Aside from local sales, the locally-assembled models are also being exported to nearby markets in the ASEAN region, a process that has already begun since March this year, the company says.
Adding to the ambitious target, Frump said that Volvo is also aiming to become the “number one eLuxury car brand” in Malaysia. In achieving that, Frump confirmed that the company will also naturally be slowly phasing out its internal combustion engine-powered vehicles, according to the global Volvo directions.
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Volvo currently has two fully-electric models on sale here in Malaysia – the XC40 Recharge Pure Electric, and the C40 Recharge Pure Electric that was launched today. Both are powered by the same P8 electric powertrain, making 408 hp and 660 Nm from two electric motors.
The line-up could be expanding very soon, however, as the company also teased the all-new Volvo EX90 at the event today, indicating that it’ll be the “next” fully-electric EV model to make it into Malaysia.
A concrete timeline has not been announced just yet, with Frump being slightly coy about its availability. However, the company has previously committed to launching one EV per year, starting with the XC40 and C40 Recharge this year.
Speaking on the sidelines at the launch event today, Frump confirmed to us that the company still intends to follow through with that promise. If that is the case, we could see the Volvo EX90 launched here in Malaysia as soon as next year!
ALSO READ: Volvo Car Malaysia to launch one EV per year from 2022 – XC40 Recharge, C40 this year
