Volvo Car South Africa (Volvo SA) has announced local pricing for the Swedish brand’s first all-electric vehicle, the XC40 P8 Recharge sports-utility vehicle.

Volvo XC40 P8 Recharge orders are being taken from this month.

Deliveries will commence in August.

Pricing for the car will start at R1.2-million, including VAT.

Included in the pricing of the Volvo XC40 P8 Recharge is the Volvo CARE package.

This includes a five-year maintenance plan and warranty, three years of insurance, use of a petrol car for two weeks per year for three years, and a home charger that includes charge cables.

The XC40 P8 Recharge can travel up to 418 km on a single charge. 

The vehicle’s twin electric motors produce 304 kW (408 hp) of power and 660 Nm of torque, to deliver a zero to 100 km/h sprint time of 4.9 seconds.

Volvo SA MD Greg Maruszewski says the company has worked hard to offer the vehicle at a competitive price.

“All-electric vehicles sold in South Africa have traditionally come with hefty price tags, and this has undoubtedly been a deterrent. We know that there is an appetite in South Africa for electric cars and we were determined to give customers an attractive price.”

The company has also announced that the XC40 P8 Recharge will be sold exclusively online via the company’s new website – My.Volvo.

Volvo SA says this online store enables South Africans to purchase or rent a new car in as little as 20 minutes, without leaving their home. 

“Customers need to follow five easy steps to select the car and arrange both finance and delivery, or collection.”

Every type of buyer is catered for, whether they want to rent, finance or pay cash.

Maruszewski says My.Volvo is indicative of the fact that the way people buy cars has changed. 

“We have accelerated the company’s move towards online sales. 

“In 2020, Volvo Cars [globally] more than doubled its number of cars sold online versus 2019.”

Going forward, the emphasis on online sales will grow. 

Maruszewski says he is expecting wide customer acceptance of My.Volvo. 

“It makes buying a car as easy as possible, without compromising on choice or safety, and it allows customers to make the purchase when it's most convenient for them. It places our customers firmly in the driving seat when it comes to the purchasing process – and we have no doubt that they will like this.”

“The Volvo XC40 P8 Recharge all-electric is clearly a sign of things to come,” adds Maruszewski.

“[Volvo has] announced that it will only manufacture electric cars by 2030, with all sales to be online. So, our future is clear, and it will be fully electric, sustainable, and online.”

Electrified Sales Growing
Volvo SA notes that the Swedish brand has kicked off 2021 on a high note – with global sales increasing by 40.8% in the first quarter of the year, compared with the same period last year. 

Volvo Cars’ Recharge range, which includes all its electrified vehicles, accounted for 26% of all Volvo cars sold worldwide in March.