Volvo Cars has now formally opened the order books for the XC40 Recharge P8, the company's first fully electric car based on the best-selling XC40 SUV, in selected markets.

The XC40 Recharge P8 is the first of a family of fully electric Volvos. It represents a true milestone for Volvo Cars, as the company's first fully electric car and the first Volvo with a new infotainment system powered by Google's Android operating system.

The all-wheel drive XC40 Recharge P8 offers a range of over 400km when tested on the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure, and a maximum power output of 402bhp. The battery charges to 80% of its capacity in 40 mins on a fast-charging system.

Inside, an innovative approach to all-round functionality provides drivers with plenty of storage space, and not having an internal combustion engine means the car provides drivers with even more storage space than the regular XC40 via a so-called 'frunk' under the front hood.

Tens of thousands of consumers have shown keen interest in the all electric XC40, and the company already received several thousands of firm orders even before the formal start of sales. Production and the first customer deliveries of the XC40 Recharge P8 are scheduled to begin later this year.

The initial order intake is the latest proof of strong demand for Volvo Cars' 'Recharge' car line, the name for all Volvos with a fully electric and plug-in hybrid powertrain. The company aims to make all electric cars 50% of its global sales by 2025, with the rest hybrids.

The company is also seeing strong and continued growth in terms of online customer configurations for its Recharge cars, which counted for around a third of all configurations in the region during the fourth quarter of 2019.