Volvo XC20 E-SUV to use Geely’s SEA platform, will Proton be next?

At the recent 2020 Beijing Motor Show (2020 Auto China), Lynk & Co displayed its electric concept car called the Zero Concept. The concept EV is built on Geely’s new full-electric platform called Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA).

Geely has plans to make the SEA platform as the world’s first open-source architecture, which means it could be shared with other vehicle manufacturers for their own EV development. Seeing that Volvo is under Geely's ownership, it makes sense for the Swedish marque to take advantage of this.

In fact, the Swedish brand is set to produce a smaller crossover that could slot below the XC40 and uses the SEA platform. In an interview, Volvo boss Hakan Samuelsson had admitted that his engineers are working on models based on the SEA platform.

“We’ll use it for a smaller car, where I think it’s very practical and smart for us to share that, so we can have a cost structure for a smaller car that’s very competitive,” Samuelsson said.

He continued, “It’s difficult to push the CMA platform (the XC40’s chassis), which is a combination platform for EVs and combustion-engined cars, further down. So if you want to do a smaller car than XC40 then SEA can do it. We will use it for that.”

The SEA platform has been developed in China but the Volvo head has assured that it’s natural for the Swedish carmaker to partner with their Chinese owners. “We developed CMA in Gothenberg, although it was financed jointly,” he says. “With Chinese suppliers you get a very cost structure. But with a Volvo top hat on.”

As for the name, it is reported that the XC10 and XC20 names have been trademarked but Samuelsson declined to give a specific badge for the new model just yet.

No time frame has been given for the new Volvo E-SUV yet but it is one of the models planned in filling half of Volvo’s sales volumes with pure-electric models by 2025.

The Proton connection

There has been no confirmation that Geely will be introducing alternative fuel sources technology to Proton. The last time the local boys did an EV experiment, they ended up auctioning off their prototypes, rather than venture into product development. 

With a partnership with a brand that cares about sustainability like Volvo, it seems a waste for Proton to not be given the opportunity.

After all, the SEA platform might work for Proton in providing an affordable EV for the people. Then again, it depends on whether this country can pull off in providing better infrastructure, education, and incentives on EVs.