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Volvo Cars starts production of C40 Recharge in Belgium

Volvo Cars has begun production of the C40 Recharge, its latest fully electric model at its manufacturing plant in Ghent, Belgium.

The C40 Recharge is Volvo Cars’ second fully electric car and is the latest in a series of new pure electric cars to be launched in the coming years. By 2030, Volvo Cars aims to sell only fully electric cars, one of the most ambitious electrification strategies in the car industry. It also aims to be a climate-neutral company by 2040.

The Ghent plant, one of the company’s largest, is a trailblazer in Volvo Cars’ move towards all-out electrification.

Volvo Cars is increasing electric car capacity at the Ghent facility considerably, to 135,000 cars per year, and already expects more than half of the plant’s production volume in 2022 to consist of fully electric cars.

Javier Varela, senior vice president for industrial operations and quality at Volvo Cars, said: “The C40 Recharge is a car that represents our future. Our manufacturing operations and a close collaboration with our suppliers are key in achieving our future ambitions in terms of electrification and climate neutrality. Our Ghent plant is ready for an all-electric future and will be an important part of our global industrial network for the years to come.”

The C40 Recharge is the latest manifestation of Volvo Cars’ ambitions for a zero-emission future. The company will roll out several additional electric models in the coming years and aims for 50% of its global sales volume to consist of fully electric cars by 2025, before becoming fully electric by 2030.

The propulsion of the new electric C40 consists of twin electric motors, one on the front and one on the rear axle, powered by a 78kWh battery that can be fast-charged from 10 to 80 per cent in about 40 minutes. It offers an anticipated range of around 273 miles and first UK deliveries are expected in early 2022.

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