Battery-pure siblings set to compete with near-relation on NZ scene.

POLESTAR 2, which runs off a parallel assembly line in the same plant and is all but an under-skin twin, was just one of several models used as a barometer when local prices were set for two fully electric Volvo sports utilities coming in October.

This from Ben Montgomery, Volvo Cars New Zealand general manager, in explaining the market position and specification of the XC40 and coupe style C40 Recharge models.

Arriving in October, the models represent in single motor 170kW/330Nm P6 and dual motor 300kW/660Nm P8 formats, the fast-backed car at $85,900 and $100,900 and the more squared XC at $83,990 and $97,990, both in fixed specification formats that effectively throw in every luxury available. 

The pricing is broadly ballpark with that for the Polestar 2 hatch, which spans from $76,900 to $114,990.

Both marques are owned by China’s Geely and the NZ-market Volvos come from the same factory in Linqiao, China, producing the Polestars.

The models share an underpinning and drivetrains, with all-but-mirrored outputs and range expectations, but take different routes for specification. 

That tie notwithstanding, Polestar 2 alone has not dictated how the Volvo wares should be placed, Montgomery says.

The brands operate separately and Volvo New Zealand works with the parent office in Sweden. All electric cars of similar size, performance and status were considered, spanning from Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y – which start in the low to mid $70k slot - up to Mercedes’ $142,000 EQC.

He suggested the Volvo product being delivered to a single specification, with no options, showed difference with Polestar, which has base provisions and cost-extra enhancement packs.

Volvo’s approach was to make life as easy as possible for the customer, but it would also like be a benefit to helping with supply – an issue that’s been a huge bugbear for these cars.

All going well, both might have been expected here a year ago, when Polestar 2 came.

But demand from larger, higher-priority markets, the semiconductor shortage and, most recently, the resurgence in coronavirus cases in China that effectively shut down Shanghai, the major shipping access point, hammered introduction planning.

“The Shanghai lockdown definitely affected us. They went into lockdown in mid-February and didn’t really get out of it properly until late May.” Sorting production took a couple of weeks longer.

“Couple with that is international demand (for EVs). “As we have seen, for all manufacturers the pendulum swung so much faster than I think anyone foresaw.”

Good news is that the line is now at full speed again. Other news is that the factory can only give Volvo NZ so many cars this year.

Montgomery won’t say how many, but says all the XC40s and most of the C40s here before Christmas are already spoken for.

Still, 2023 will be when the supply line will be stronger. That’s also when the entire Volvoe NZ lineup will have relinquished all fully combustion-engined products. From next year on, everything will be electrified, across mild, plug-in and wholly electric.

What’ll make C40 and XC40 Recharger supply easier is the simple approach thane to the specification. Basically, picking a colour is the only choice a buyer has to make.

“Volvo strategy is to bring in very well specified vehicles. There is no other option to box tick for either P6 or P8. It’s purely colour.”

Montgomery is excited by the C40’s potential, saying ““it’s the first ground up designed pure electric from Volvo and a sign of the direction of the brand.” Notwithstanding, traditional SUV shapes resound strongly here and the fossil fuel XC30 is maibtaining its status, first earned in 2021, as the top-selling premium compact small SUV.

The single motor cars run a 69kWh (net) lithium ion battery; the duals feed off a 78kWh battery.  Cited ranges are up to 450km for the small battery and up to 500km for the large, these expected to improve over time through over the air updates (handily, one draw is a four year unlimited data plan), and 0-100kmh times span from 7.4 seconds down to  4.9.

Volvo’s electric models offer 150kW DC fast charging, which allows replenishment from state of exhaustion to 80 percent in just 40 minutes.

Both models will come with an Android-powered infotainment system and a fully integrated Volvo On Call services platform. This provides customers with benefits such as roadside assist via the New Zealand Automobile Association.