First electric Volvo a hatchback

Volvo’s first electric car is likely to be a hatchback based on the 40.2 Concept, expected to be launched in 2019.

And it will probably be followed by an electrified XC40, Autocar reports.

In the concept, the battery-electric powertrain offered a range of nearly 350km, although it’s reportedly aiming for around 498km for its production electric model – on a par with rivals such as Volkswagen’s ID electric line-up.

Volvo has officially confirmed that a stand-alone electric model will arrive in 2019, but it has not given any more details.

Last year, it was the first car maker to explicitly announce plans to electrify its model line-up. In July, it said that from 2019 it would begin overhauling its range with electric, hybrid and mild-hybrid powertrains.

Firms such as Jaguar Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, VW and Mazda, have since followed suit.