Volvo has launched a brand new electric vehicle (EV) in South Africa, which comes with much anticipation. The Volvo XC40 P6 Recharge is a single-motor EV and is the most affordable luxury EV on the local market. These limited-production, ultra-modern cars can be purchased through the My Volvo website for R1 075 000. There is already a waiting list and the first vehicles are expected to arrive towards the end of 2022.
Volvo South Africa managing director, Greg Maruszewski, says that it was important for the Swedish brand to provide South African customers with a more affordable option. EVs are expensive by the nature of their technology, so switching from internal combustion engines to battery power is not a lighthearted decision.
“The appetite for electric cars in South Africa is steadily growing, as proven by the popularity of our first battery-powered offering, the twin-motor XC40 P8 Recharge AWD. As with that model, we worked hard to bring in this P6 variant at an attractive price point,” explains Maruszewski.
Volvo is an indirect customer of Formex Industries. Our automotive components and assemblies are sold to Tier 1 suppliers of Volvo and other original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). As more of our direct and indirect customers shift toward EVs, the future of sustainable transport is becoming more evident.
Volvo XC40 P6 Recharge information
One of the major points of competition within the EV sector is range – how far can a battery-powered car go on one charge? Generally, the more affordable the EV, the less range it offers. However, with the P6 Recharge, this is not necessarily the case as Volvo states that it can travel up to 423km on a single charge.
Its high-voltage 69kWh lithium-ion battery pack is mounted low within the chassis to provide greater stability and traction. The P6 Recharge also has an 11kW onboard charger for fast stops along your journey. The single motor is mounted to the front axle and puts out 170kW and 330Nm of torque.
Its 0-100km/h time is 7.4 seconds, which is slow compared to other EVs but bear in mind that this is an affordable luxury vehicle, not a sports EV. The Volvo P6 Recharge can tow up to 1.5 tonnes, so it’s more capable and convenient than many other EVs currently on the market.
Optional specs on the P6 recharge
Volvo is renowned for offering many specs as standard on its vehicles; the P6 Recharge is no exception. The only optional extras available are a panoramic sunroof, 20-inch wheels (instead of 19-inch), heated seats and a heated steering wheel. Colour choices are wide and include Fjord Blue, Bright Dusk and Silver Dawn.
Every other luxury spec is standard on this EV, including wireless smartphone charging, reverse cameras, front and rear parking sensors, as well as Android infotainment with Google apps.
Volvo’s renowned suite of safety features is also included: Pilot Assist driver support and Volvo CARE package, which consists of a five-year maintenance plan, three-year comprehensive insurance, a public charging cable, a wall box home charger and use of a petrol car for two weeks per year for three years.
As an indirect customer of Formex, Volvo’s commitment to the future of transportation bodes well for the South African automotive manufacturing sector. For more information about our components and products, please contact us today.
Formex Industries is a metal forming and assembly company that supplies a variety of complex products to the local automotive industry and the export market. The company is based in the Nelson Mandela Bay metropole, South Africa’s foremost region for automotive manufacturing and export.
Formex is a Level 2 B-BBEE supplier. The company is owned by Deneb Investments Limited – a subsidiary of Hosken Consolidated Investments Limited (HCI) – one of South Africa’s biggest true B-BBEE companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE).
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