The company seeks a creative solution to increase V40 sales, without affecting the XC40 territory.
The Volvo V40’s days seem to be over. It is likely that the small hatchback will be replaced by a new model with slightly higher ground clearance. If this sounds familiar to you, it is. The evolution will take the hatchback to a more coupe-shaped crossover. Volvo reportedly won’t say if the V40 will ever be replaced.
Lex Kerssemakers, Volvo’s European head of operations, spoke to Autocar about the future of the hatchback. According to the report, he stated that the automaker would “probably need another body type in the next two-to three years in 40 series.”
This is what it means. In 2018, V40 sales fell across the pond, while SUV was up, as expected. Volvo has an SUV in its 40 series, the XC40. So replacing the hatchback by a different SUV is not an option. Despite declining sales, Volvo seems not ready to abandon small hatchbacks. It is possible that a crossover will emerge that falls somewhere in between, but that middle ground is not very likely.
The V40 has a problem. Or, rather, it has a problem under its skin. This platform dates back to 2000, when all-electric or hybrid technology was not as common. The V40 is too small to allow it to grow, so a new platform is needed. Be creative suddenly makes more sense.
Is the next model going to be called V40? It’s hard to know, but it seems that V40, as it is currently called, is in decline.