Not a surprise to me here, but I've heard through a grapevine that the C40 is going to be ending. This follows the news we got that the EX30 production is partially shifting to Belgium and that there weren't any expansion plans for the Belgium plant. I've had a few folks in the past few weeks looking for 40 series Ultimates and there just are only a very small handful out there of even the XC40 for 2024.

So if you're considering one of my fav late model Volvos, don't wait! Find one now, get an order in if you can.

Too bad. I love my recently purchased 2023 C40 Recharge Ultimate. It's the best vehicle, of any brand, I have owned.

 

I think it would have sold better under a different brand. Not enough Volvo customer base is looking for something with that character. And it hurt that it was so close to the XC40 that folks would select the higher roofline and bigger rear window over it. I love them... though I honestly expect to love the EX30 even more.

 

I think the C40 going away was a fait accomplit once the EX30 was announced. I can't imagine both vehicles being sold at the same store with one $15-20k more expensive.

 

It will be interesting to see what happens with the XC40 Recharge as well once the EX30 arrives. Full EVs across the industry seem to be struggling to sell. If that remains in the coming years, I hope Volvo could offer a hybrid version of the XC30 or even one with a ICE. Its a great looking CUV, although a cluster behind the wheel would be nice.

I wonder if the C40 would have sold better as a hybrid or with a ICE, similar to the XC40. Does anyone know the take rate split between the XC40 B5 and XC40 Recharge?

 

It will be interesting to see what happens with the XC40 Recharge as well once the EX30 arrives. Full EVs across the industry seem to be struggling to sell. If that remains in the coming years, I hope Volvo could offer a hybrid version of the XC30 or even one with a ICE. Its a great looking CUV, although a cluster behind the wheel would be nice.

I wonder if the C40 would have sold better as a hybrid or with a ICE, similar to the XC40. Does anyone know the take rate split between the XC40 B5 and XC40 Recharge?

A PHEV or ICE EX30? Doubtful since the EX30s platform was designed with only a pure electric drivetrain in mind.

I don't think Volvo did the right thing by embracing a pure EV lineup. The demand for EVs on a global level is still miles away compared to PHEV/ICE vehicles. Even governments are pushing back previously set ICE cut-off dates. Volvo will be forced, in my opinion, to keep current vehicles in production but I don't know how can they keep a generation of vehicles competitive for 15-20 years.

And regarding the sales of ICEs/PHEVs compared to BEVs, for my country it's around 50:1.

 

Boooooooooooooo

 

I wish they'd go full EV right now... like today, or yesterday. Volvo is tiny in auto manufacturing, granted now being part of Geely is a bigger operation, but still small overall. Being able to focus on a niche is where tiny automakers can do very well. Volvo will never compete head to head with VW (Audi) or Toyota (Lexus)... They don't need to have the mass market appeal, they need to have undying support for the little slice of the market they have, and focusing on something like EV would be the perfect way to do so. The market as a whole isn't ready for EV, but there is a market far far bigger than Volvo can supply, for luxury EV cars. Making only those would allow them to maximize the value of their investments and help them stand out and market naturally as well.

 

I prefer Volvo’s PHEVs…

 

XC40 is ugly compared to the C40 and the EX30 is a basic car that I have zero interest in. I’m loving my current car and o look forward to see what a ES60 looks like!

 

... look forward to see what a ES60 looks like!

Me, too! My present S60 is warrantied until 2029. Any future car purchase will be a battery car. I figure it will be a more crowded and competitive field by 2030...

 

I see a ton of new Volvos where I live in the PNW. I have only seen one C40 ever. I’m surprised it’s lasted this long.

 

I’d already been waiting for the EX30 to roll out and make C40/XC40 leftover inventory prices tank…this might help even more. What was supposed to be my commuter car pretty much never leaves the garage anymore unless we need both cars at once. Tough to make a case to burn gas in town when it’s 5 times cheaper in our wind-powered state to burn electrons…

 

I won't be too sad to see the C40 discontinued either. I always thought it kind of looked awkward and Volvo I thought was starting to introduce too many SUV's. When there becomes too many models they eventually can start cannibalizing one another and it dilutes the brand. The problem I see is the Volvo lineup is becoming boring. Mercedes-Benz just launched a new SL, companies like Porsche have the 911 etc. These other companies are overshadowing Volvo with a lot of other fun enthusiast products. They could use some sort of coupe or something to just liven up the place a bit. Yes, the wagons and sedans are great and cars like the V60 PE are awesome but it's not enough. People are becoming bored. A classy 2 door coupe with beautiful Volvo styling and all the great safety features and classic minimalist design I think would go a long way. Even a 2 door S60 or just something small. I understand that the market isn't big for 2 door coupes but if they could just bring more people into the showrooms, then they might be able to sell other models better too.

Yes I know there is Polestar but the Volvo brand itself needs some excitement too. It's not like Volvo is short on any enthusiasts working there or within close proximity to the company either, so there should be no excuses why they can't have atleast 1 other fun coupe or something. Screw the family for a minute. Many of those guys have become overly arrogant enough. That audience already has enough other people blowing smoke up their asses. That's the truth. Let's just be honest for a minute.

What originally attracted me and other people to brands like Volvo and also SAAB was how good of an overall package they were. It was the distinctive timeless styling, the fact that the cars didn't take themselves too seriously (a trait in which they have thankfully kept). It was the fact that just because a car is fun to drive and captivating didn't mean it had to be super stiff riding and beat you up or even be overly sporty necessarily. The cars have a very unique way in which they drive and that is a good thing, it's unique. Volvo was and still is the king of this 'It's not polite to brag' ethos and there is a certain of humility that is associated with them and obviously the legendary safety and reliability, we can't forget to mention that! It was traits like these that really attracted a lot of people to Volvo and obviously the wagons where you could put all your skis on top and drive up to the mountains with friends and the car would just be laid back and chill and the car fit in perfectly to those activities. They were thoughtfully designed and engineered vehicles. I really think it was that in which really made people fall in love with the brand and obviously the rock solid build quality too and that feeling you get when you shut the door in one.

What never attracted me to Volvo were some of the pushy families who think they are better than everyone else because they have a ton of kids, large families and a lot of $. Preaching to other people about how they go to church while they are sinful all the time basically and practice gluttony on a daily basis pretty much. People who basically try to tell others how to live their lives and make other people who disagree with them out to be a bunch of idiots because they are intolerant of other's opinions. Yes, I know not all of them are like that and I know many families are big customers for Volvo. All I would propose to Volvo is if some of us could have atleast 1 other really cool car in the lineup besides just the sedans and wagons, cars that really attract the type of customers who made Volvo famous to begin with. Something cool. Volvo can still have it's family customers ok but maybe expand the audience more to people who aren't as well. The fact that so many places we go to are almost overly catering to these giant families and no one else gets kind of old sometimes.

I was selling I think R/C parts one time and this guy who called me was one of those overly self important family people 🙄 and all they could do is go on and on about how great their kids are, their kick ass business they own and how much money they make and stupid stuff no one cares about responding to a complete stranger on a for sale post! I mean really? Who wants to listen to that? A good amount of time too they aren't even serious about the item that is for sale either and it becomes a big waste of time. I have started just hanging up on those people because it gets old. So honestly even if Volvo were to lose some of those people, I think it would be a welcome change and it could actually attract more customers as well possibly. And maybe it would allow some of those other buyers who are cool to get a word in possibly as well and not have to listen to a bunch of humorless family/old people.. 🤷‍♂️

That's my opinion..

 

On a semi related note, the EV market is so interesting. I live in south central PA and we're a politically central area I'd say. Radios in my customers cars are just as likely to be turned to NPR as they are to talk radio. I have my "get a horse" 1910 postcard at my desk to chuckle at the similarities against EVs to those against gas cars 100+ years ago. I've declared myself a libertarian, so environmentalism is of little interest to me, but EVs are simply better cars for most of the population around here (single family homes with less than 50 miles a day round trip). If not for my collection of projects I already need to finish, I'd probably buy an old leaf and transplant the powertrain into one of my XC70s. We are 100% sold out of new BEVs at our store, my York store might still have one. The last 2023 sold last month. In the past 3 weeks or so we've had quite a resurgence in people asking for EVs, while frankly, the 3 months before that it was ghost town. Something about running out of something makes everyone interested. I even had one call about a EM90. We're in a spot where we don't want too many, because frankly, we did have to lose a few grand to move the last few BEVs, and those we put in loaner fleet we get killed on. The Care By Volvo program killed their depreciation (do a search for CPO 2023 cars..... that's where the value is, my goodness, they are a fantastic deal, even better than a used S60). C40s tank even more than XC40s... so the few buyers out there will be well served to find one CPO or ask their dealer to get one off auction for them to meet their spec. Not all dealers are willing to do this, but plenty would be.

 

Certified 2023 Volvo C40 Recharge Pure Electric Twin Plus For Sale $36,000 | Cars.com

Wow, you ain't kidding about the deals! If I needed a car I'd get this instead of waiting for an EX30!

 

My parents got one of these as a loaner last summer. My mom LOVED it. We're now looking for a black one for her that comes in or around $40k. Her trusty TSX wagon will be good for a while mechanically, but is starting to rot underneath. 12 years in NH will do that to a Japanese car.

 

We really liked the C40, but in the back seat, with the very vertical seating, plus the sloped roof, my head was brushing the headlined and I'm only 5'10". Just wasn't going to work for us.

 

I’m taller than you and I was fine.

 

Volvo is a leader when it comes to carrying tall people.

 

Volvo sold 35k C40s in 2023 vs 88k XC40 Recharge EVs.

C40 launched in 2021. Its not going away any time soon. Not due for replacement until 2028.

EX30 production is planned alongside the existing products, not in place of them.

 

You don’t go out much 😂

 

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a46867510/2025-volvo-ex40-ec40-revealed/

 

The Queen is dead. Long live the King!

 

Never understood the format. To each their own, but give me a C30 or a V50 or V60. Neither-nor was never my thing. Handles worse and doesn't have any cargo or rear seat headroom?

 

https://www.xc40forum.com/threads/ex40-and-ec40-leaked.7472/