Volvo Car Malaysia’s Merdeka Campaign this year pays homage to the country’s 63rd National Day with the belief that good things come in three. And so it will centre upon three Volvo sedans – the S60 T8 R-Design, S90 T8 Inscription Plus and S90 T8 Special Edition – with three special deals – free first-year insurance, free Polestar optimisation package and free 5-year service maintenance (VSA5+).
“Coming off the back of our most successful month since the inception of Volvo Car Malaysia in 1999, with 286 units sold in July, we hope that our Volvo 2020 Merdeka Campaign will spur Malaysians to consider the additional benefits of having a car that is powerful yet safe. As an automotive brand, we are committed to making the roads safer for both drivers and passengers through leading safety features and innovation that have been carefully engineered into our cars. Together with our legacy in Malaysia and our Swedish heritage, we want to continue to provide safer, more sustainable and premium experiences for more generations of Malaysians to come,” said Nalin Jain, MD of Volvo Car Malaysia (VCM).
Besides the special deals, VCM is also adding extra deals for buyers of the S90 Inscription Plus and S90 T8 Special Edition. For the former, there’s a RM15,000 voucher to purchase accessories while those who buy the latter will get a complimentary exterior styling kit and a 20-inch rim and tyre package worth RM35,000.
Through this campaign, Volvo Car Malaysia is also offering everyone a chance to own exclusive Volvo merchandise such as watches, sunglasses, electric ride-on cars for children and more, at a special bundled price of RM1,957. There is a bundle deal for men, women and children, with each category consisting of specific lifestyle items.
A Volvo for the little ones.
Finally, in collaboration with Thule Malaysia, Volvo Car owners who present their car key when purchasing any Thule Crossover 2 luggage bags and backpacks will be given a Thule Subterra PowerShuttle Organiser worth RM119. They will also receive a 15% discount on all Thule items until the end of December 2020.
In its aim to increase its presence in the country, Volvo Car Malaysia has not forgotten East Malaysia. Last November, it appointed Sebangga Mitsinbo Sdn. Bhd as a dealer-partner in Sabah and recently, the same business partner opened a new 3S (Sales, Service & Spare Parts) centre in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
Sebangga Mitsinbo Sdn. Bhd. (part of the Sebangga Group and formerly known as Sebangga Auto) joins Volvo Car Malaysia’s network of 13 dealers across the country. It is the sole authorised Volvo car dealer for the state of Sabah.
“Volvo Car Malaysia and the Sebangga Group share the same vision of protecting what is important, which is why we are honoured to have Sebangga Mitsinbo as our 14th 3S centre in Malaysia. As a brand, we want to enable a dynamic driving experience for our Sabahan customers, as they journey on the road, in life and with the brand, while also caring for the planet through a more sustainable drive with Volvo Cars,” said Nalin Jain, MD of Volvo Car Malaysia.
“With the establishment of a 3S centre in Kota Kinabalu, it reinforces our commitment to make roads safer – our vision is that no one should be seriously injured or killed in a new Volvo car. With this partnership, our hope for this new dealership is to make premium, safe and quality vehicles accessible to the Sabahan community and from there, spur a movement of being safe on the road,” he added.
Volvo Retail Experience
Inspired by the brand’s Scandinavian-inspired ideals and heritage, the Sebangga Mitsinbo 3S Centre adheres to Volvo Car’s retail standard – the Volvo Retail Experience (VRE). The open space and minimalistic-but-functional furniture are part of the Volvo design language which creates a contemporary luxury experience.
The two-storey space features a showroom at the ground floor, a service centre, a Volvo Car Lifestyle Collection and an Accessories showcase. Volvo’s latest models will be on display and visitors can request for test drives of the XC40, XC60, XC90, S60 and S90.
XC40 – one of the Volvo models in the current range.
“This partnership with Volvo resonates well with our vision, in that we, too, value life above all. With Volvo being the pioneers in automotive safety, we are proud to carry the brand under our group and continue to strengthen their position as well as our mutual goal in protecting what is important. The addition of this 3S centre here in Sabah is part of our journey together with Volvo to help make roads safer for passengers and vehicles,” said Dato’ Arif Ambrose Ng, Chairman of Sebangga Group.
“At Volvo Cars, we understand that the value, quality and accessibility of services are just as important as the car, which is why we remain committed to ensuring that all of our customers experience a seamless and premium journey of acquiring and owning a Volvo car,” said Mr. Nalin.
Volvo Car Malaysia (VCM) has joined other distributors of premium brands in offering pre-owned Volvo cars with its used car programme known as Volvo SELEKT. The sale of pre-owned Volvos by the Volvo distributor is not new as Federal Auto, which was the first distributor for the Swedish brand, set up its own used car subsidiary in the 1960s which was quite successful.
The new programme, also available in other countries, by promises a premium experience for customers through dedicated service and assurance of quality. Each pre-owned Volvo car offered under the Volvo SELEKT programme is guaranteed to be under 5 years old and has less than 100,000 kms cumulative mileage.
Once qualified for the programme, the car will receive a 125-point inspection and have its software upgraded to the latest versions so the engine will function optimally. Genuine Volvo parts will be used for any parts that need to be replaced. Most importantly, all the services and upgrades will be conducted by trained Volvo technicians who would know the cars best.
“Through Volvo SELEKT, we hope to give customers the choice of an alternative option while maintaining all the criteria of excellence, reliability and performance of a premium luxury car. Moreover, we are committed to ensuring that all of our customers experience a seamless and premium journey of acquiring and owning a Volvo car. Volvo SELEKT thereon guarantees that customers will receive the same level of quality and service as that of a new Volvo car, but at a package that fulfils their financing needs,” said Nalin Jain, MD Volvo Car Malaysia.
A selection of pre-owned Volvos at a dealership.
While Volvo SELEKT owners won’t get the 5-year warranty that comes with brand new cars, there is still a minimum of 12 months of warranty coverage as well as complimentary 12-month maintenance service package (VSA 1), and 12 months of Roadside Assistance.
There is also the option of including Volvo accessories, including a Polestar optimisation package as an optional add-on for selected models.
“At Volvo, we put our heart and soul into every car, devoting hours of expertise and attention to detail so that it leaves a lasting impression. Pre-owned Volvo cars under the Volvo SELEKT Programme bear the same markings of excellent Swedish craftsmanship, dedication to perfection and above all, our commitment to safety. We hope that through Volvo SELEKT, more Malaysians can experience first-hand our pioneering safety features and innovation that has been engineered into each of these cars, making them some of the safest options in the market,” Mr. Nalin said.
Note: Prices are on-the-road but do not include insurance premiums. Tax exemption is only valid for 2020 models between June 15 and December, 2020.Locally-assembled version of the S60 T8 R-Design which was launched in Malaysia last month will be RM13,348 cheaper from Monday.
Sime Darby Motors has a wide range of brands in its retail and distribution portfolio for the Malaysian market. These Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Hyundai, BMW, MINI, Motorrad and Volvo. To cater to the needs of corporate clients, the company is having an ‘Unbelievable Deals’ campaign. a corporate programme providing special privileges with very attractive cost of ownership and exceptional benefits.
This campaign is applicable across all the brands to suit different requirements. “This programme is specially curated to reward our loyal customers across Sime Darby Motors Malaysia. As exhilarating as it is rewarding, we aim to offer our customers with irresistible deals whilst ensuring their sales and aftersales needs are cared for by our passionate professionals who are dedicated in providing world-class services that exceed expectations,” said Jeffrey Gan, MD of Retail & Distribution, Malaysia.
The different brands represented by Sime Darby Motors offer a variety of vehicle types from Ford pick-ups to premium sedans like the Jaguar XF (below)
“The automotive industry is moving towards a more digital environment to fit with the needs of our consumers. Our operating units are continuously innovating to find new ways of digitalising the car-buying process; from digital showrooms and door-step test drives to contactless servicing and eventually delivering customers’ cars to their doorsteps. The digital transformation in the automotive industry is certainly opening up new opportunities for us,” he explained.
On the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Gan said the company takes the current situation very seriously. “We stand guided by the government’s policy, with the safety and health of our employees, customers and business partners being our utmost priority,” he explained.
More information on the corporate programme is available at the individual websites of the respective brands.
Volvo’s reputation for safety has been built up over decades to the extent that it is recognised as a pioneer in the field. It therefore has a lot of credibility with its actions, even if they may be controversial. Like the announcement that it will limit all its vehicles to a maximum speed of 180 km/h which was made last year.
That decision has now been executed with the company saying it will have a maximum speed of 180 km/h for every new model from now on. The limitation is said to go beyond regulation and legislation to help close the remaining gap to zero serious injuries and fatalities in traffic.
“We believe that a carmaker has a responsibility to help improve traffic safety,” said Malin Ekholm, Head of the Volvo Cars Safety Centre. “Our speed-limiting technology, and the dialogue that it initiated, fits that thinking. The speed cap helps people reflect and realise that speeding is dangerous, while also providing extra peace of mind and supporting better driver behaviour.”
Some question whether a carmaker – rather than authorities – has the right to impose speed limits. The answer would be ‘yes’ as the cars are products bearing their brand name and they can take action that can ultimately save lives. Perhaps this means losing potential customers but that’s a decision the company has to make itself.
In Volvo’s case, apart from the direct effect of lower maximum speeds reducing fatalities in accidents, the carmaker has already identified that the problem with speeding is that above certain speeds, in-car safety technology and smart infrastructure design are no longer enough to avoid severe injuries and fatalities in the event of an accident.
The laws of physics still remain as a car travels along a road. Tyres may have better grip but at some point, that grip will still be lost if the speed is too high. Same with active safety systems like electronic stability control; at excessively high speeds, the systems will not be able to act fast enough to prevent the car from spinning out of control.
Incidentally, regarding speed limits, Volvo is believed to have purposely set the speedometer reading on some of its powerful models (like the 850 T5R) to ‘over-read’. This was mentioned to this writer by a Volvo engineer in the 1980s and the explanation was to help drivers avoid a speeding ticket.
Actually, limiting top speeds is not a new idea as sometime in the 1970s, some German carmakers agreed to set a limit of 250 km/h for their cars, even if the actual maximum speed was higher. The ‘gentleman’s agreement’ was an understanding which was partly to avoid forcing the German government to set speed limits on the Autobahn, which has many sections that are speed limit-free. It was to demonstrate a position of responsibility on the part of the carmakers in addressing the issue of safety.
However, by 2005, there was an inclination to stop the ‘informal’ agreement and while 250 km/h was still a limit for some models, high-performance versions went beyond that. Perhaps the belief was that people who buy high-performance cars – which are not cheap – will either not go too fast because they don’t want to crash or they would be skilled drivers.
In any case, there are few places in the civilised world where you can drive without worrying about speed limits. Other than on the Autobahn, highways in almost all developed countries have speed limits, the maximum being 110 km/h or 120 km/h. Apparently, there is are two highways in Abu Dhabi which have a speed limit of 160 km/h – the highest in the world. Perhaps that’s why the police forces of Abu Dhabi (and Dubai) have supercars – including a Lykan hypercar (US$4.5 million!) – as patrol cars.
Volvo’s 180 km/h limit will apply to all its new models all over the world so those sold in Malaysia will be having them in due course. Unlike earlier speed-limiters which could be bypassed or removed, it is believed that Volvo will make sure that owners cannot do so. Anyway, the highest speed limit is 110 km/h so unless you choose to break the law, the fact that there is a speed limit imposed by Volvo is irrelevant for most people.
Volvo Care Key for safer car sharing
Apart from the speed limit, every Volvo will also come with a Care Key. This is a special key which allows drivers (or owners) to set additional limitations on the car’s top speed. Parents may want to do so when letting younger or inexperienced children use their cars.
This sounds similar to Ford’s MyKey technology which has been around for some time. The Ford system allows setting of the maximum speed limit as well as a seatbelt reminder and even control the volume of the audio system.
In view of the Conditional Movement Control Order limiting gatherings, Volvo Car Malaysia (VCM) today launched the locally-assembled (CKD) version of the Volvo S60 T8 online. This is essentially a follow-up from the earlier launch in October last year of the CBU (imported completely built-up) model which is now in its third generation.
The model is assembled at Volvo’s own plant in Shah Alam, Selangor, the first vehicle assembly plant in Malaysia. Rather surprisingly, even though the car is assembled locally, the price of RM295,888 (without insurance) is not lower than that of the CBU model (which was said to be ‘under-priced). Normally, the CKD model can be cheaper due to the different taxation rate applied which favours locally-assembled vehicles and the car companies pass on the savings to customers.
For exterior colour choices are available (one less than the CBU model) – Fusion Red (Metallic), Onyx Black (Metallic), Pebble Grey (Metallic) and Crystal White (Pearl). This is one less than what was available with the CBU model, the missing colour being Metallic Birch. A 5-year warranty comes with the car while service intervals are set at 20,000 kms.
The 2020 S60 T8 is pretty much the same as the CBU model, specs-wise, and as assured by VCM, the quality is also similarly high. After all, the plant has also been a regional hub for the Swedish carmaker for some time. It has received investments to upgrade its manufacturing capabilities, including laser welding equipment.
The S60 rides on the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform which is used across the current Volvo range. Being modular in concept, SPA allows the engineers to develop a variety of models on the same platform, which saves R&D costs. In the case of the S60 T8, the powertrain is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) which consists of a 2-litre twin-charged (turbocharger + supercharger) 4-cylinder petrol engine and an electric motor.
The latter is powered by an 11.6 kWh lithium-ion battery pack and total system output is 407 bhp/640 Nm, with maximum torque available from 1,200 rpm. Engine power goes to the front wheels through an 8-speed automatic transmission by Aisin while the rear wheels are powered by the electric drive so the S60 has all-wheel drive.
The output numbers suggest brisk performance and indeed, this Volvo has a claimed 0 – 100 km/h time of 4.4 seconds with a top speed of 250 km/h (probably limited). However, because of the PHEV capability, it also uses less fuel and Volvo claims 50 kms/litre which is really quite amazing when you consider the performance. With a 60-litre fuel tank, that means the S60 should be good for 3,000 kms before going empty!
Like other PHEVs, the S60 T8 can run on just the electric motor alone and in this zero emissions mode, it should be able to travel up to 49 kms. Depending on the charging outlet available, recharging the battery pack to full takes around 3 hours.
For the Malaysian market, VCM includes R-Design styling features and accessories to give a sportier image to the S60. The looks are more aggressive with black-out treatment for various elements and dual tailpipes. Like all the latest Volvos, the distinctive ‘Thor’s Hammer’ graphic in the headlights provides instant identification.
The cabin has the typical Scandinavian ambience that Volvo is noted for although the interior colour theme is not light-coloured but dark. The contoured seats are wrapped in exclusive Charcoal Fine Nappa Leather with Open Grid Textile upholstery. The Digital Instrument Cluster with 12.3-inch TFT Adaptive Digital Display is complemented by a Head-Up Display (HUD) which shows important running information on the windscreen ahead of the steering wheel.
An immersive 14-speaker audio system powered by Harman Kardon is part of the Sensus Connect infotainment system. This system includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto so smartphones can be easily linked.
An additional feature for the CKD model is the handsfree operation to open the bootlid. This is a nice feature to have and once you have a car with it, you don’t want to not have it in the next car.
Volvo has been a leader in safety and its Intellisafe suite of integrated high-tech systems is adopted in the S60. This includes City Safety with Autobrake technology, which assists the driver in avoiding potential collisions and is the only system in the market to recognise pedestrians, cyclists and large animals. In a world-first for the mid-size sedan segment. City Safety now also engages auto braking to mitigate oncoming collisions.
The S60 has Volvo’s Intellisafe suite of driver-assistance systems.
The Pilot Assist system – which supports the driver with steering, acceleration and braking on well-marked roads up to 130 km/h – has been upgraded with improved cornering performance. There’s also Run-off Road Mitigation, Oncoming Lane Mitigation and other driver assistance systems, now including Park Assist to make positioning the car in a parking bay much easier.
The 760 is remembered as the model that saved Volvo and allowed it to exist up till today. Though the company had line of smaller models (the 300 series) from its Dutch subsidiary, it still needed a large volume-seller to take over from the aging 240/260 that had done well before the world got hit by the first of the oil crises.
When the first plans for the 760 were formulated in the mid-1970s, the automotive industry in general was experiencing a lot of difficulties. The first oil crisis had just passed and increasing concerns about air pollution caused by exhaust fumes had brought on stricter emission-control regulations, requiring new engineering solutions at extra cost. It was also a very difficult time as production costs increased and currency issues also made exports more expensive.
The 760 had taken a longer time to develop because it was a crucial model and not just a successor to the 200-series. It was to take Volvo further into the premium segment for the first time and had to be able to attract customers who usually considered the BMW 5-Series or the Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W123 at that time).
The car that was launched in 1982 was entirely new with a design that epitomised the Swedish obsession with ‘function having priority over form’ and it was taken to an extreme. Elegant in some ways, it was also slab-sided – at a time when car designs were ‘softening’ with rounded edges and more curves.
Some thought the looks were rather ‘American’ and that Volvo’s designers wanted to appeal to that market where the company sold the most cars but that was never admitted. Jan Wilsgaard, then Volvo’s head of design, said the car looked the way it did because ‘of function and space optimization’.
Apparently, the finance department wanted a design with straight and flat surfaces, as well as angular lines, preferably 90 degrees, in order to reduce the production costs as much as possible. This led to Volvo’s looking rather boxy for a long time and it would only be in the mid-1990s, with the C70 Coupe that Peter Horbury, who was the design chief, could declare that Volvo had finally gotten rid of ‘the box’.
Wilsgaard’s proposal somehow satisfied the different groups within the company: the rear end was somewhat like a stationwagon with straight body sides and with an abruptly cut-off boot. This led to having almost vertical rear screen and boxy rear section. Designers were in pursuit of ever-lower drag coefficients by making shapes sleeker and it was pointed out that the 700’s Cd of 0.29 was as good as the Porsche 928’s and 10% better than the 264.
The 760 was conceived in a time when conditions changed almost daily and in the company, there were many strong and different opinions regarding the new car. There was no Internet to surf in order to understand consumer thinking but Volvo designers made use of the best possible tool available at the time, a very thorough analysis of the surrounding world.
Very valuable during this process was the use of product clinics which Volvo used for the first time and at which people’s reactions regarding the new car were studied without revealing any details like the brand of car or its origins.
No, this wasn’t from a James Bond movie. It was a dramatic film demonstrating the car’s strength by dropping it from 3 storeys.
Besides safety, it was decided that reliability, fuel efficiency, longevity, serviceability, low noise levels, design and performance – in that order – should guide the development work on the new project which was given the code ‘P31’. It was also decided that rear-wheel drive should be employed, and that the wheelbase should be 10 cm longer than that of the 264 which was Volvo’s flagship then.
The car was also to be somewhat shorter than its predecessor but had to be the same width. Volvos were still being viewed as ‘tanks’ because of their bulk and weight but Volvo was never discouraged by that label though the engineers were told that the 760 should be at least 100 kgs lighter than the 264.
Constant-track rear suspension with subframe in the middle.
What people saw of the exterior was entirely new but Volvo didn’t have the financial resources to develop a brand new platform for the car. So the powertrain and chassis were carried over from the 264, the primary engine being the 2.8-litre ‘Douvrin’ V6 engine which was jointly developed by Volvo, Peugeot and Renault and built at one plant for all of them.
The B23ET turbocharged engine used in the 740 Turbo.
There was also a 6-cylinder turbodiesel unit supplied by Volkswagen and tuned to Volvo’s specifications. It was the quickest diesel car at that time. Later on, Volvo would also offer the 760 Turbo which had unusually quick performance – 8.5 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h – which was very quick for a Volvo in those days.
Prior to the launch of the 760 in 1982, Volvo previewed the new shape as a stationwagon concept car at the 1981 Frankfurt Motorshow
Volvo also examined the idea of shutting down cylinders selectively when a high power output was not necessary. This was a fuel-saving strategy but it was very crude in operation and it was only some 2 decades later than Honda would be able to get the concept refined enough for use (GM did introduce such an engine in some of its models but it failed to catch on).
The 760 became a turning point for Volvo, product-wise and financially, and formed the basis for the continuation of the company. Like the later Galaxy project which saw Volvo moving into front-wheel drive cars with the 850, the P31 project was a massive industrial undertaking.
Longevity was also evident in the platform which continued to evolve up till 1998 when the last model with its roots in 760 technologies ended production. Records show that 221,309 units of the 760 were made (1,230,704 if the smaller-engined 740 is included) before it was replaced in late 1992 by the 960.
Sime Darby and Volvo have been part of the Malaysian landscape for a long time, with the latter having begun selling its cars in the 1960s. Both companies have now established a partnership with the establishment of Sime Darby Swedish Auto at Sime Darby Motors City in Ara Damansara, Selangor.
The new dealership officially opened its Volvo 3S (Sales, Services & Spare Parts) Centre today with the aim of delivering the brand’s vision to the market and bolster customer confidence. According to Nalin Jain, MD of Volvo Car Malaysia, the Swedish automaker has been continuously looking to expand its presence nationwide with a like-minded partner.
“Building off our accomplishments in 2018 and further growth in 2019, Volvo is set to have a great 2020. The partnership we have with premium dealers such as Sime Darby Swedish Auto is the key to expanding the Volvo brand’s Swedish-inspired ideals and heritage especially within regard to its retail experience, new car sales and customer service improvement. There is an amazing potential,” he said.
The new 4-storey state-of-the-art Volvo 3S Centre adheres to Volvo Car’s retail standard – the Volvo Retail Experience (VRE). It is also the first 3S Centre to be equipped with a VR Studio (Virtual Reality Studio) and a ‘Reception at the Counter’ bay.
The 3S Centre was designed to deliver a contemporary luxury experience featuring a showroom at the ground floor and a service centre (with car detailing area) spread across the second and third floors. There are 8 repair and service bays, with a wheel alignment and balancing zone located on the fourth floor.
All customer parking bays have a designated Electric Vehicle Charger which aligns with Volvo’s goals for environmental sustainability through the introduction and promotion of clean energy technologies.
Commenting on the new partnership, Andrew Basham, MD of Sime Darby Motors, the automotive division of Sime Darby Berhad, said: “From the start of our relationship with Volvo Cars Malaysia, it was imperative that we focus on delivering peak customer satisfaction and this is reflected in the many offerings at our 3S centre”.
Mr. Basham added that the partnership with Volvo is a meeting of minds, as the principles of sustainability of Volvo are perfectly aligned to that of Sime Darby Motors. “We are going digital and just one way this is expressed is through our Digital Silent Salesman (DSS) platform which means that even price lists will be shared digitally,” he said.
Volvo Cars was rather late in adding a SUV to its range, with its first model – the XC90 – launched only in 2002. The reason given for the delay was that it wanted to offer a SUV only when it could address known safety issues (like the effect on a tall body on handling) and resolve them. It had a strong reputation for safety, on which the brand’s strength grew, and it was not going to lose that. The XC90 certainly proved to be a SUV with innovative safety features like Roll-Over Protection which worked to counteract the risk of tipping over during hard cornering.
Volvo’s first SUV – the XC90 – was launched in 2002 after the carmaker addressed safety issues with innovations like Roll-Over Protection that reduced the risk of the tall SUV tipping over during hard cornering.
Like the other carmakers, Volvo Cars gave increasing attention to SUVs, expanding its range as the segment grew. 17 years later, its SUVs have helped the company gain market share in China, the USA and Europe amid stagnating car markets.
More significantly, in 2019, the Swedish carmaker set a new, sixth consecutive global sales record, breaking the 700,000-unit level for the first time in its 93-year history. 705,452 Volvo vehicles were delivered worldwide last year, an increase of 9.8% compared to 2018, solidly outgrowing the overall market across all regions.
During the past few years, Volvo has also been moving towards electrification of its range. It aims for plug-in hybrid models to make up 20% of total sales this year. Overall, Volvo sold 45,933 plug-in hybrid vehicles in 2019, an increase of 22.9% compared to 2018 and more than double the number in 2017.
Illustrating the strength of its portfolio and its sales performance in 2019, Volvo surpassed the previous full-year sales record of 642,253 cars, set in 2018, nearly a full month before the end of the year. December was the company’s best ever sales month, with a 23.4% year-on-year increase to 74,239 cars sold.
Sales by markets
In China, home of Volvo’s parent company, the brand sold 154,961 cars in 2019, an increase of 18.7% compared to 2018 and comfortably outperforming the overall market. The result was an all-time record for Volvo in China and the highest sales number it has ever reached in a single market.
Volvo Cars manufacturing plant in China
In the USA, a market that has usually been Volvo’s strongest customer, the 100,000-unit threshold was crossed for the first time since 2007 when 108,234 vehicles were registered by December 31. Compared to 2018, the sales increase was 10.1%.
European sales were particularly strong in Germany, where the company sold more than 50,000 vehicles for the first time in its history, while it achieved its best sales result since 1990 in the UK. Other markets that recorded their best ever sales performance in the company’s history included Australia, Belgium, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Korea, Poland and Portugal.
Sales by models
The XC60 SUV continued to be the best-selling model for the company globally, followed by the XC40 and XC90 SUVs. Sedans and stationwagons remained popular, adding to volume growth in China and Europe, respectively.
The first Recharge model shares styling with the XC40 but is powered only by an electric motor.
The company will introduce its Recharge line-up in markets around the globe. Recharge will be the umbrella name for all chargeable Volvos with a fully electric and plug-in hybrid powertrain. The Recharge car line aims to further boost sales of Volvo Cars’ chargeable cars and encourage plug-in hybrid drivers via incentives to use Pure mode as much as possible.
Every Volvo model already includes a Recharge option, from the XC40 SUV via the 60-Series cars to the large XC90 SUV flagship. Volvo is the only carmaker to offer a plug-in variant on every model in its line-up, with a fully-electric model – the XC40 Recharge P8 – to appear in showrooms in due course.
