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2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge priced at $54,985

The final piece of the puzzle for the 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge is falling into place today, two weeks after official EPA range information became available. Volvo just announced pricing, and it’s going to start at $54,985, including the $995 destination charge. Of course, buyers can also expect to take advantage of the $7,500 federal tax credit (and other state credits) with their XC40 Recharge purchase. That makes the total dent in the wallet $47,485 for a base crossover, or even cheaper depending on what state you live in. There isnÂ’t a long list of available packages and options, but Volvo detailed a few of them for us. The most expensive is the Advanced Package that adds VolvoÂ’s Pilot Assist driver assistance system, a 360-degree camera, wireless phone charging, a 12-volt outlet in the luggage area and a headlight cleaning system for $1,300. The Climate Package adds a heated steering wheel, heated rear seats and heated wiper blades for $750. And the last important option weÂ’ll point out is a heat pump for $350. Volvo says the heat pump can precondition the cabinÂ’s temperature and extend battery range, so it feels like a no-brainer for such a cheap price. Compared to the XC40 RechargeÂ’s direct competition, the crossover is priced in the same ballpark. A Tesla Model Y Long Range is $49,990. The base Ford Mustang Mach-E with all-wheel drive starts at $46,695. Neither the Ford nor the Tesla are perfect comparisons, though. The XC40 is both smaller and more premium than both of those options. WeÂ’ll note that itÂ’s not a huge stretch to go from the XC40 Recharge to the Polestar 2 that begins at $61,200, a $6,215 climb above the base XC40 Recharge. 2020 Volvo XC40 Recharge View 23 Photos Charging network Volvo also announced that itÂ’s beginning a collaboration with ChargePoint as the official charging network for the XC40 Recharge. That will give owners approximately 115,000 places to charge their electric crossover, though Volvo is light on the details for now. We asked, and Volvo said that an announcement about charging software integration is coming soon. DonÂ’t expect free charging to be part of the deal though, as Volvo tells us thatÂ’s not part of the companyÂ’s “immediate plans.” The partnership will allow owners to purchase a ChargePoint Home Flex charger for their home at the time of their XC40 purchase, but we donÂ’t have pricing on this option yet. You can place an order for the electric crossover on VolvoÂ’s website now.

Volvo begins rolling out over-the-air software updates in the U.S.

Volvo announced that two of its models are now compatible with over-the-air software updates. The electric XC40 Recharge and three versions of the XC60 are eligible to receive a variety of wireless changes including driving range improvements and small bug fixes. The Swedish firm published details about its over-the-air software updating system shortly after going public. It's compatible with the new Android-based infotainment system found in many of its cars, including the C40 Recharge unveiled in 2021, and it works a lot like the similar technology that your smartphone features in the sense that the software updates itself; there's no need to stop by a dealer or plug in a USB drive. When an update is ready, a message appears on the dashboard-mounted touchscreen asking motorists if they want to download it. Owners of compatible cars in the United States received their first over-the-air software update last week. Labeled version 1.7, it notably added SiriusXM satellite radio compatibility. Volvo also noted that the XC40 Recharge received additional driving range during the update. Looking ahead, Volvo plans to wirelessly add new features and enhancements to the infotainment system. Only some 2021 and 2022 models can receive over-the-air updates. As of writing, the list of compatible cars is limited to the aforementioned XC40 Recharge, the XC60, the XC60 Recharge, and the XC60 Polestar Engineered. It's reasonable to assume that the feature will spread across the range in the coming years as new models are launched. Sister company Polestar also offers over-the-air updates on the 2. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Volvo Cars picks Ember Technologies chief Jim Rowan as new CEO

Jim Rowan (Reuters)   STOCKHOLM — Volvo Car Group has appointed Jim Rowan as new chief executive to succeed longtime CEO Hakan Samuelsson in March, it said on Tuesday. Rowan, currently CEO at U.S-based Ember Technologies, is taking over just months after Volvo wrapped up its initial public offering, the biggest in Europe last year. He will face the task of steering the carmaker towards its goal to sell 50% pure electric cars by the middle of this decade and electric cars only by 2030. "Volvo Cars is going through a rapid transformation of digitalization, which is why we wanted to bring in someone with global CEO experience from outside the automotive industry," Volvo Chairperson Eric Li said in a statement. Samuelsson joined Volvo's board in 2010 and has been CEO for almost 10 years, with his contract coming to an end this year. Before joining Ember in 2021, Rowan had been CEO of Dyson. Volvo, majority owned by China's Geely Holding, said Samuelsson will stay in his role until Rowan starts in March. Samuelsson will also leave the board, while continuing as chairman of electric vehicle maker Polestar. Polestar, in which Volvo owns 49%, aims to go public through a reverse merger with special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC) Gores Guggenheim. The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2022.