Volvo Cars unveiled a significant update to its 40 series lineup on Thursday, giving the EX40, EC40 and XC40 refreshed exteriors, an upgraded infotainment system and a new sensor platform — while confirming the electric EX40 will not return to the United States.
The move marks the third electric model Volvo has pulled from its American portfolio in the space of a year, following the removal of the EX30 in March and the discontinuation of the coupe-shaped EC40 after the 2025 model year.
Only the refreshed, gas-powered XC40 will be sold stateside as a 2028 model, according to Kelley Blue Book, while the updated EX40 and EC40 continue in Europe and other markets.
Order books for the new 40 series opened on Thursday in selected markets, with production set to begin later this autumn at Volvo’s Ghent plant in Belgium, where the XC40 family has been assembled since 2017.
Design Overhaul
A redesigned front end gives the refreshed models a cleaner look. New Thor’s Hammer Matrix LED headlights sit alongside an upgraded grille, redesigned bumper, reshaped bonnet and new front wings.
At the rear, the XC40 and EX40 receive new LED tail lights, a revised tailgate and a new bumper.
The EC40 crossover retains its existing rear design. New 18-inch, 19-inch and 20-inch diamond-cut wheels are available on the XC40.
Inside, a larger 11.2-inch central touchscreen replaces the previous nine-inch unit and brings Volvo’s latest user interface, which the company says requires fewer taps to reach key functions.
Google’s Gemini AI assistant is integrated into the 40 series for the first time, having reached most other Volvo models earlier this year, enabling voice-based route planning, message handling and natural-language queries.
Safety and Sensor Upgrades
Volvo built the refresh around a new software and sensor platform.
New front and corner radars, a new front camera, rear corner radars, 12 ultrasonic sensors and new parking cameras give the car a more comprehensive field of view.
The hardware enables automatic emergency steering and braking systems that can warn the driver or intervene when a potential collision is detected.
A Door Opening Alert system warns occupants before they open a door into passing cyclists or traffic.
The optional Pilot Assist system gains lane change capability and smoother road following.
An optional 360-degree camera now includes a 3D view for low-speed manoeuvring.
EX40 Powertrain and Range
Under the skin, the refreshed EX40 rides on the same decade-old Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) co-developed with parent company Geely.
Rear-wheel drive and dual-motor all-wheel drive configurations remain available.
Volvo’s release states no change to batteries, motors or charging.
In Britain the variants take the naming introduced on the EX60: P5, P5 Long Range, P8 AWD and P8 Performance AWD, which are propulsion designations rather than trim levels.
Volvo quotes a maximum preliminary WLTP range of 575 km (357.3 miles) for the EX40 and 584 km (362.9 miles) for the EC40, figures in line with the current Single Motor Extended Range cars.
US Retreat
The EX40’s exit from the American market leaves the EX60 — which began European customer deliveries earlier this year — as Volvo’s entry-level electric vehicle in the country once EX40 stock is sold, starting at $59,795
The outgoing EX40 carried a $56,545 sticker price.
Volvo sold 1,724 EX40 and XC40 Recharge units in the United States during the first half of 2026, according to Autoevolution.
A spokesperson told Motor1 that the company evaluates customer needs when shaping its product mix and believes its current EV SUV range meets American demand.
The retreat comes as Volvo navigates its weakest sales stretch in years.
Worldwide deliveries fell 7.4% to 148,239 vehicles in the three months to August, with the company saying it is prioritising transaction prices over volume growth amid challenging conditions in China and the US.
Fully electric deliveries rose 27% in the same window, but the gains have not been enough to offset a 23% collapse in combustion and mild-hybrid sales.
EX50 Incoming
A replacement is already in the pipeline.
According to an Automotive News report, Volvo is developing a new EX50 compact crossover on its SPA3 platform — the same architecture underpinning the well-received EX60.
The model is expected to arrive in US showrooms by late 2027, priced in the high $40,000s, and will be manufactured at Volvo’s new plant in Košice, Slovakia, where assembly conveyors were recently installed ahead of trial builds.
SPA3 brings cell-to-body battery technology, megacasting, third-generation in-house electric motors and an 800-volt electrical system — a generational leap over the CMA platform that underpins the current EX40.
Volvo Car Americas President Luis Rezende said in May that a replacement for the EX30 was coming in 2027, describing a vehicle with more space that would be “fun to drive” — a description widely interpreted as a reference to the EX50.
The model is expected to consolidate the roles of three discontinued EVs — the EX30, EX40 and EC40 — into a single, more competitively priced offering for the American market.
The refreshed EX40 and EC40 remain part of Volvo’s European lineup, where fully electric models accounted for 29% of the brand’s global sales in the most recent quarter.
Over-the-air updates will continue to deliver new software and features to 40 series cars already on the road.
