Ghent celebrates production milestone with millionth XC40/EX40
Seven years ago after the Ghent manufacturing plant in Belgium assembled its first Volvo XC40, the one-millionth car has just rolled off the production line, marking a significant milestone that underscores the global success of this versatile premium SUV and the strategy of producing cars closer to the markets where they are sold.
The XC40 was first unveiled in September 2017 at a special event in Milan, Italy. As Volvo’s first small premium SUV, it quickly became a best-seller and earned the prestigious European Car of the Year award in 2018, making it the first Volvo to achieve this honor.
In 2020, the XC40 expanded its offerings with a fully electric version, paving the way for Volvo Cars to lead in the premium electric vehicle segment. This model is not only powered by in-house-developed electric motors but is also designed to improve over time through over-the-air updates.
Earlier this year, the pure electric XC40 was renamed EX40 as part of a strategy to simplify model names for fully electric vehicles. While the last plug-in hybrid XC40 was built last year, the XC40 name remains for the mild-hybrid version, which continues to be in production at the Ghent factory.
Since its launch, the XC40 has consistently ranked among Volvo’s top three best-selling models. In 2023, it was the company’s second-best-selling vehicle, just behind the XC60 mid-size SUV, and it continues to hold that position through the first nine months of 2024.
As one of five fully electric models currently on the market, the EX40 is part of Volvo’s broader strategy toward full electrification, with plans to ensure that by 2030, 90 to 100 percent of all its cars sold globally will be electric, allowing only a limited number of mild hybrids.
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