[[email protected]]

IRVINE, Calif., June 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Volvo Cars of North America, LLC (VCNA) announces that sales are down 13.4% year-to-date compared to the same period during last years' record year. With 9,035 units sold in the United States and Canada during May, sales declined 31% for the month.

Total sales for the United States were 8,021 units. Volvo sales in Canada totaled 1,014 units, which represents a slight increase over May 2001.

VCNA provides marketing, sales, parts, service, technology and training support to Volvo automobile retailers in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico.

The 2002 Volvo automobile line includes the sporty S60, the flagship S80 luxury sedan, the versatile V70 wagon and rugged Cross Country, C70 Coupe and convertible, and the compact S40 and V40 models.

 

[GrecianVolvo]

quote:

Originally posted by [email protected]:
IRVINE, Calif., June 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Volvo Cars of North America, LLC (VCNA) announces that sales are down 13.4% year-to-date compared to the same period during last years' record year. With 9,035 units sold in the United States and Canada during May, sales declined 31% for the month.

Total sales for the United States were 8,021 units. Volvo sales in Canada totaled 1,014 units, which represents a slight increase over May 2001.

VCNA provides marketing, sales, parts, service, technology and training support to Volvo automobile retailers in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico.

The 2002 Volvo automobile line includes the sporty S60, the flagship S80 luxury sedan, the versatile V70 wagon and rugged Cross Country, C70 Coupe and convertible, and the compact S40 and V40 models.

Unfortunately, Volvo Cars Corp. have fallen asleep at the wheel; they have been asleep since the beginning of the year. They are in for a major shock come December 31, 2002 when the final numbers will roll in.

Yannis

 

[[email protected]]

I've heard similar rumblings from another dealer I know. Mainly he says it's about the promotions & ad campaigns, and he doesn't think the ones this year are all that effective.

I agree, but from a market competition perspective, I think they need updates for the 40 series and C70s, and the refreshening for the S80 was a bit on the conservative side.

Don't get me wrong, I still love the cars, but that market is increasinly tough to play in. The R's should help add some spice to the line, which should help. The Ms at BMW, the Ss at Audi and the AMGs at MB may not sell in high numbers, but they are halo cars.

 

[S.R.]

This may sound totally ridiculous, but if Volvo doesn't offer Bi-Xenon's for the 03' model year here in the US, I am going to fly to their HQ and zap someone with an HID controller. Makes me ill really...

-Drew

 

[deleonl1]

Doesn't sound ridiculus at all...I'm shocked, almost embarrassed, that Volvo has gone this long without them.

 

[daimoni]

Hey, I bought a car in May (or was it April?). I'm doing my part, aren't I?

But sometimes I stop and think about the fact that I could've bought a BMW 5 series instead of the V70 T5... oh, well.

 

[GrecianVolvo]

quote:

Originally posted by [email protected]:
I've heard similar rumblings from another dealer I know. Mainly he says it's about the promotions & ad campaigns, and he doesn't think the ones this year are all that effective.

I agree, but from a market competition perspective, I think they need updates for the 40 series and C70s, and the refreshening for the S80 was a bit on the conservative side.

Don't get me wrong, I still love the cars, but that market is increasinly tough to play in. The R's should help add some spice to the line, which should help. The Ms at BMW, the Ss at Audi and the AMGs at MB may not sell in high numbers, but they are halo cars.

George,

you are correct in that we have two aging models in our lineup, the S/V40s and the C70s but...and this is a big BUT(T)!

In 1998, if you remember, that was one of the longest model years in Volvo's history; we were selling 1998s for more than 18 months! And the "funny" part is we broke all kinds of records with virtually ONE model; the S/V70!!! The S/V90s accounted for marginal sales. Here we are, in 2002 with [probably] the best lineup EVER! And we are getting trounced!

The lease programs are very aggressive but the marketing strategy stinks worse than a glass of milk left outside for 2 months past its expiration date. That is pretty stinky!

The bottom line is this; I have never seen this type of COMPLACENCY from the Volvo managers and even all the way to the top...NEVER!

By the way, I just heard that VCNA's CEO, Dan Werbin, has "retired" (not voluntarily) and will be replaced tomorrow by Vic Doolan, Reitzle's right hand at PAG. Doolan is supposed ton be very energetic and very high on lease and marketing strategies...We shall see...

Yannis

 

[[email protected]]

I heard the same rumor in a conversation with corporate today. Interesting.

Regarding the lineup, you're also in a soft market with much heavier competition. Good to see the good movement in the JD Power's Surveys.

 

[Spearzy]

I blame Ford.