For immediate release
TORONTO (January 4, 2005) – With total vehicle sales reaching 11,135 for the 12 months of 2004, Volvo Cars of Canada Ltd. today announced it has enjoyed the best full year of sales since 1974. The sales results for 2004 represent an increase of 3.6 per cent over the 10,750 units sold in 2003.
For the month of December, Volvo retailers sold a total of 755 vehicles, representing a strong increase of 18.3 per cent compared to the same month in 2003.
“I would like to pass on my congratulations to Canada’s Volvo retailers, staff and our corporate partners for contributing to such a successful year,” said Paul Cummings, Volvo Cars of Canada Ltd. president and CEO. “We have made terrific progress in 2004, but it’s important for us not to slow down. The successes we have seen this past year have provided us with the ideal momentum to begin the New Year and we should all look at 2005 as an opportunity to push the Volvo business further forward.”
The Canadian appetite for all-wheel drive (AWD) continued strong in December, with nearly two-thirds of Volvo vehicles delivered with the powertrain. For the 2005 model year, every Volvo model offers AWD as either standard or optional equipment.
“In the winter months, Volvo retailers enjoy heavy traffic from consumers looking for all-wheel drive equipped models,” said Larry Futers, Volvo Cars of Canada Ltd. vice president of marketing. “Volvo Canada saw this interest in the latter months of 2004 and we expect it to grow in 2005. The company will support this interest through marketing programs designed to promote all-wheel drive and Volvo.”
While the XC70 and XC90 come standard with AWD, the S80, S60 and V70 have seen the most consumers choosing the system with 67, 40 and 27 per cent being so equipped, respectively. The new-for-2005 S40 and V50 can also be equipped with AWD and 13 and 19 per cent of those models sold feature the all-wheel drive system, respectively.
Volvo Cars of Canada Ltd. 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 company’s product range includes the flagship S80 luxury sedan, the versatile V70 wagon, the S60 sports sedan, the exotic C70 convertible and an XC-line of vehicles that includes the rugged XC70 and the award-winning XC90 sport utility vehicle. For 2005, the company is introducing the completely redesigned S40 sports sedan and V50 sportswagon, providing performance for a new generation.
- 30 -
Contact:
Doug Mepham
1-877-975-1572 office
613-922-6097 mobile
doug.mepham@bellnet.ca
Chad Heard
416-540-4229
chadheard@rogers.com
Media website:
For Sales Report:
http://www.volvocars-pr.com/index.asp?par=company&pag=sales&lang=2&flash=1&year=2004&month=12
