An unknown number are now stuck at ports.
The Volvo XC40 Recharge is a huge deal for the Swedish automaker for one reason: it’s the company’s first-ever all-electric model. With plans in place to become an EV-only brand by 2030, Volvo has a lot to prove with the XC40 Recharge and the just-revealed C40 Recharge. Unfortunately, there’s a problem with the former. An unknown number of examples are currently stuck in various American ports because Volvo forgot to activate the Volvo on Call software before they departed the Swedish factory, according to The Verge.
A Volvo spokesperson did not directly address the issue when reached for comment, only reiterating the delivery date “has not changed from the original schedule of Q1 2021.”
However, a multi-week delay appears inevitable. At least one customer was told by their dealership the SUV won’t be shipped out of the Newark, New Jersey port until mid-April. The report claims the SUVs are stuck in several US ports aside from Newark, such as in New York, Maryland, and California.
Activating the Volvo on Call subscription service is very important because it connects the SUV to an owner’s smartphone, thus enabling a number of functions like remotely turning the vehicle on and off, locking or unlocking the doors, and accessing other vital information. Volvo dealers appear not to know when the automaker will issue the necessary over-the-air update to sort everything out.
It’s important to bear in mind Volvo, like most automakers aside from Tesla, has only just begun doing OTA updates. It’s a new process for them and there can be a learning curve. These updates will become common procedures soon enough.
Only last week did Volvo issue the first series of OTA updates for current XC40 Recharge owners that feature a “new base software for the car’s main electronics system, an increase in charging speed, and an improved driving range… [and an] important safety-related propulsion bug fix.” Hopefully, this next group of owners won’t have to wait too much longer for delivery.
Source Credits: