Volvo eyes new records for 2017 sales
Volvo Cars, the global premium mobility company, has expressed confidence that 2017 will be another great record year for it in terms of sales.
The confidence of a great year ahead follows the sales record it broke in 2016 when it reported a third consecutive year of record sales, increasing 6.2 percent compared to 2015 to 534 332 cars – underlining the breadth and depth of the company’s ongoing global transformation.
The record-breaking year of 2016, according to the Swedish car maker, was driven by solid growth in all major sales regions, including double-digit increases in its two largest markets (China and the United States) and a strong performance in Western Europe.
Sales of the new top-of-the-line 90 series cars were the main growth drivers globally, led by the Volvo XC90 large premium SUV for which sales rose 125 percent versus 2015, highlighting the success of the company’s new design and engineering direction and boding well for the future as more new models are revealed in the coming years.
Meanwhile, the evergreen XC60 mid-size premium SUV established another new annual sales record of 161 092 cars in its ninth year on the market, having increased sales every year since it was introduced in 2008.
Volvo’s largest market in 2016 was China, with total sales of 90 930 cars, an increase of 11.5 percent. The best-selling models in the world’s largest car market were the locally-produced Volvo XC60 and S60L premium sedan.
In the United States, Volvo gained market share in 2016 with a growth of 18.1 percent, making it one of the fastest-growing premium brands in a broadly flat market. Total sales for the year amounted to 82 726 cars, with the Volvo XC90 and XC60 leading sales performances.
Sales in Western Europe increased 4.1 percent, boosted by strong performances in key markets such as Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and Italy. Total sales in the region amounted to 206 144 cars.
As a result of these and other partnerships that are transforming its business model, Volvo Cars said it is no longer just a car maker; it is now a global premium mobility company.
