Volvo Approves Plans For Mystery New SUV

Although sales for sedans like theVolvo S60and S90 are not the strongest these days, popularity for its SUVshas never been higher. TheVolvo XC40and larger XC60 and XC90 are proving to be formidable competitors in their respective luxury SUV segments. Meanwhile, the XC40's all-electric sibling, theXC40 Recharge, Volvo's first-ever pure electric SUV, hasjust entered production. So where does Volvo go from here, aside from regular model cycle redesigns? Well, it appears it's going smaller and all-electric.

According to Auto Express, Volvo has decided its next SUV will be an all battery-electric even smaller than the XC40. More than likely, it'll be called the XC20, a nameplate the firm has already trademarked.

Speaking to Volvo CEO Hakan Samuelsson at this year's Beijing Auto Show, he confirmed the smaller XC20 EV SUV will be one of Volvo's first vehicle to ride on a new dedicated pure-electric platform developed by parent company Geely. The Chinese-owned Geely bought Volvo from Ford back in 2010 and has very successfully turned it into a major luxury player.

As for that new platform, dubbed Sustainable Experience Architecture (SAE), Samuelsson acknowledged it'll serve as the new SUV's basis instead of the XC40's architecture. "We will also use SEA," Samuelsson said.