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On July 5, Volvo's brand-new compact SUV_Volvo C40 was officially launched. The new car launched three models: long-endurance version, long-endurance PRO and four-wheel drive high-performance PRO. The direct selling price range was 267,000 - 328,000 yuan. It is understood that Volvo C40 was first unveiled at Guangzhou Auto Show in 2021. The car is based on Volvo XC40 RECHARGE and will be introduced through official direct sales in China. Volvo has announced that it will sell only electric cars by 2030.

In terms of appearance, Volvo C40 continues the design style of Volvo XC40 RECHARGE as a whole. The front face adopts closed grille, the headlights on both sides continue the design style of Thor Hammer, and matrix LED light source is adopted. In addition, the radiating opening surrounded by the front of the new car adopts a three-part design, and the triangular pattern on both sides is embedded with a horizontal fog lamp group. At the same time, we can also see the obvious slip-back styling, with two raised spoiler trim at the rear of the roof and a small spoiler in the trunk, which is very sporty. In terms of size, the length, width and height of the new car are 4440/1873/1591mm respectively, and the wheelbase is 2702 mm.

Interior part, the new car and XC40 RECHARGE are basically the same, still follow the consistent Nordic minimalist style, it is equipped with 12.3-inch full LCD instrument, 9-inch touch display, and equipped with three-spoke multi-function steering wheel, the center console as a whole slightly turned to the driver's side, the overall internal design is very simple.

In terms of power, Volvo C40 offers single-motor models (long-range version, long-range PRO) and dual-motor models (four-wheel drive high-performance PRO). Among them, the maximum power of single motor is 170kw, the maximum torque is 330N·m, the battery capacity is 69kWh, and the estimated range of CLTC is 550km. The maximum power of dual motors is 300kw, the maximum torque is 660N·m, the battery capacity is 78kWh, and the estimated range of CLTC is 530km. In terms of suspension, the car uses a front McPherson rear multi-link independent suspension system.

It is understood that Volvo has realized four domestic models including S90, S60, XC60 and XC40 in China at present, among which S90, S60 and XC60 launch plug-in hybrid models on the basis of fuel vehicles, XC40 launches pure electric vehicles on the basis of fuel vehicles, but the price is much more expensive. For example, Volvo XC40 sells for 26.48-35.48 million yuan, while Volvo XC40 RECHARGE sells for 27.83- 30.90 million yuan. In the era of rapid development of new energy sources, such high prices also mean that its market performance is not very optimistic as an oil-to-electric model based on fuel version. Take the sales volume in May as an example, Volvo S60 RECHARGE is only 63 vehicles, Volvo XC60 RECHARGE is 51 vehicles, Volvo S90 RECHARGE is 90 vehicles, the monthly sales volume basically maintains at double-digit level, which is outside the 100 th place in the new energy list.

Compared with other car companies, Volvo is relatively aggressive in terms of electrification, even if it is not optimistic about the current performance in the new energy vehicle market. In March 2021, Volvo announced that it would be fully electrified by 2025, when 50% of pure electric models would be available and the rest hybrid models; by 2030, Volvo would become a pure electric luxury car company, selling only pure electric vehicles and eliminating all cars with internal combustion engines worldwide, including hybrids. By 2040, Volvo will aim to be a climate-neutral benchmark, with all electric-only models sold online only.

While accelerating electrification, Volvo is also adjusting its existing sales model to promote online direct sales. It is understood that by 2025, all Volvo pure electric models will be sold online only, and sales of pure electric models sold online will account for half of Volvo's total car sales.

As for why traditional car companies gradually promote direct sales? Looking at the current electric vehicle market, new forces such as NIO, Xiaopeng, Ideal and Tesla all adopt the sales mode of direct sales by manufacturers. For traditional automobile enterprises, the new force of direct-selling mode has already had a certain impact on automobile sales mode, and has begun to transform into direct sales one after another. For example, Volkswagen ID. family and Ford Electric Horse adopt direct-selling mode.

Bypass the traditional sales model, product prices are further transparent, and in the case of abandoning "middlemen", product prices are expected to be further reduced. At the same time, through the direct sales mode, manufacturers will have more direct contact with users and markets, and can respond more quickly to changes in users and markets.

Volvo is a Swedish luxury car brand, which was translated as "Regal" and was born in Gothenburg, Sweden in 1927. In 1999, Ford bought Volvo Cars for $6.45 billion. In 2010, due to the financial crisis, Ford was trapped in operating losses and had to sell its brand assets, of which Volvo was sold to China Geely Automobile for only US $1.8 billion, down more than 70% from the original purchase price of US $6.45 billion.

In the eyes of many people, Geely's acquisition of Volvo is enough to be called "snake swallow elephant". In the ten years since the acquisition, Volvo has continued to provide Geely with technical inspiration and technical support. On February 24,2021, Volvo and Geely reached the best merger plan, which not only continuously expanded the cooperation field on the basis of maintaining their independent corporate structure, but also deepened cooperation in automobile electrification, intelligence, networking and sharing. According to the data, Volvo's global car sales volume in 2019 was 705,500, including 154,600 in China; Volvo's global car sales volume in 2020 was 661,700, including 166,300 in China; Volvo's global car sales volume in 2021 was 698,700, including 171,400 in China.

According to the latest data, Volvo sold 291,301 vehicles worldwide from January to June 2022, down 23.5% year-on-year, of which Volvo sold 70233 vehicles in China, down 26.3% year-on-year. Of course, not only in the Chinese market, Volvo's decline in the European and American markets is relatively serious, mainly due to supply chain tensions and epidemic impact.

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