For immediate release
Strong December Volvo sales cap 2003 as best year in the past 29
TORONTO (Jan. 5, 2004) - Sales of 638 vehicles through the closing days of December boosted Volvo Cars of Canada Ltd. total sales for 2003 to 10,750 units for the year, the best annual sales performance for the company in 29 years.
December sales were 14.3 per cent ahead of the 558 units sold in the same month of 2002, and pushed the full year sales tally 13.9 per cent above the 9,442 vehicles sold during 2002.
The total for 2003 marked the third year of double-digit growth for Volvo in Canada and the third-best year in the company's history, said Volvo Cars of Canada president and chief executive Paul Cummings.
"It's been a year with so many highlights, but certainly the performance of our all-wheel drive vehicles continues to be a great example of our success across the country," says Cummings. "The XC90 and XC70 dominated the market for European SUV and cross-over vehicles, and with the popularity of S60 AWD and the arrival of the new S80 AWD, we have become a leader in the market for all-wheel drive vehicles."
The momentum of 2003 will spill into 2004, Cummings says, aided by the arrival of the new Volvo S40 this summer and V50 this fall. The new 2005 entry-level premium sedan (S40) and sportswagon (V50) will not only give the company new entries in a burgeoning segment of the market, they will add to the company's all-wheel drive line-up. The two new entries were shown for the first time in North America at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit this week.
Volvo Cars of Canada is part of the Volvo Car Corporation of Göteborg, Sweden. The company provides marketing, sales, parts, service, technology and training support to the 43 Volvo automobile retailers across the country. The 2004 Volvo vehicle line includes the flagship S80 luxury sedan, versatile V70 wagon and rugged XC70, exotic C70 convertible, the sporty S60 sedan, compact S40 and V40, and the award-winning Volvo XC90 sport utility vehicle, described as "the next generation SUV."
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Contact:
Doug Mepham
Media website: www.volvocars-pr.ca
1 877 975 1572 office
416 727 4543 mobile
