Volvo, a Swedish marque owned by China’s Geely Group, is set to launch a brand-new plug-in hybrid SUV, codenamed V446, specifically designed for the Chinese market. The newly launched hybrid vehicle was jointly developed by Volvo, Meizu, and Geely, and is set to enter mass production in early 2025 at Volvo’s Taizhou manufacturing facility, according to reports from home media outlets.
Volvo V446 will likely be primarily based on one of many current Lynk & Co SUV plug-in hybrid fashions, and the software program and {hardware} improvement is led primarily by the Volvo China R&D staff, Autopix notes.
Regardless of not mentioning which mannequin it will likely be primarily based on, CarNewsChina expects it will likely be Lynk & Co 08, and it’ll use its EM-P PHEV expertise, sitting on the CMA 2 platform, which is acquainted to Volvo as its older model underpins the XC40. In marked distinction from the all-electric SPA 2 platform, which is specifically designed for electric vehicles, the CMA 2 architecture has been engineered to support plug-in hybrid powertrains.
Meizu and ECARX have partnered to create the cutting-edge cockpit software for Volvo’s innovative V446 model. Meizu, once an independent smartphone manufacturer, was acquired by Geely in July 2022, while EcarX is a cutting-edge automotive technology company backed by the conglomerate.
Meizu’s in-cabin software program Flyme Auto is at present utilized in 17 fashions from Geely Group, together with Lynk & Co 08, Geely Galaxy sequence, and Polestar. Meizu claims 62,000 vehicles geared up with Flyme had been offered in October, with Lynk & Co being the principle contributor.
Volvo may be collaborating with Meizu for the first time. Despite both companies being part of the Geely Group, their collaboration does not proceed without challenge.
Volvo doesn’t need to use Flyme Auto immediately like Lynk & Co or Geely Galaxy however insists on making some modifications and diversifications to make it “really feel extra like a Volvo.” Volvo Asia Pacific (Volvo’s Chinese language unit) devoted many cockpit SW designers to cooperating with EcarX to finish the Flyme Auto changes.
According to a Volvo China insider quoted by Autopix, it is unlikely that the Flyme Auto logo will be featured on newly released Volvo vehicles, even if they are powered by Flyme technology. Notwithstanding this development, it could potentially pave the way for Meizu to integrate its in-car software into more Volvo models available in China, suggesting a promising future.
And there are extra struggles. Despite efforts to improve Volvo’s software program, Swedish engineers in Europe continue to be responsible for the final product, introducing additional complexities. A senior official from Volvo Asia Pacific’s R&D system revealed that the European software program staff usually takes a couple of week to ship a revised model after receiving suggestions. “That’s significantly slower compared to the typical turnaround times of homegrown software development teams,” he lamented to Autopix. Moreover, the approximately seven-hour time difference between China and Sweden significantly impedes effective communication.
Lynk & Co 08 EM-P (see all specs) is a mid-size PHEV SUV with dimensions 4820/1915/1685 mm and a wheelbase of 2848 mm. The top-of-the-line trim level features an all-wheel-drive (AWD) configuration for its five-seat layout, powered by a 40 kilowatt-hour nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery supplied by Contemporary Amperex Technology Limited (CATL). This powertrain also boasts a mixed driving range of approximately 1,200 kilometers as certified by the Chinese Laboratory Test Cycle (CLTC). The engine boasts an impressive 316 kW (585 horsepower) and a peak torque of 905 Newton meters. The average cost of a home in China starts at approximately 178,800 yuan, equivalent to around 24,700 USD.
