Volvo Records Third Consecutive Year-Over-Year Sales Increase with August Sales Up 24.8 Percent
Volvo Extends Safe + Sound Coverage Plan Through September
Complimentary Coverage Program Drives Consistent Traffic to Volvo Showrooms, Benefitting Sales Along With Cash for Clunkers
ROCKLEIGH, N.J. (Sept. 1, 2009) - Volvo Cars of North America, LLC, (VCNA) August sales were up 24.8 percent, marking the third straight month of a year-over-year increase. VCNA sold a total of 5,826 vehicles in August.
For the month of August, Volvo sales in Canada were up 16.3 percent with a total of 527 vehicles sold. Overall in North America (United States and Canada), Volvo has sold 46,558 units year-to-date, which represents a 24.2 percent decrease for the same period of 2008*.
"I think we surprised a lot of people with the sales successes we've logged this summer," said Doug Speck, VCNA president and CEO, "but we knew we had a solid game plan in place with the successful launch of the all new XC60 and our Safe + Sound Coverage Plan. In fact, we were sure we'd hit our year-over-year increase last month even before the government rolled out Cash for Clunkers."
Cash for Clunkers, a federal program designed to boost the economy and incentivize consumers to turn in old, gas guzzling cars and trucks for new, more environmentally friendly vehicles, was a success for the automotive industry. It accounted for nearly 700,000 new vehicle sales between July 24 and Aug. 24, 2009. One-tenth of a percent of the vehicles sold under the program were Volvos. (The estimated total at press time is around 800 vehicles.)
"Safe + Sound is unlike any other program on the market," said Speck. "Consumers who gravitate to Volvo value the cost savings that a long-term coverage program offers."
The Safe + Sound Coverage Plan, a complimentary coverage program, wraps a comprehensive list of benefits into one package. Volvo has combined additional time and mileage limits on warranty repairs and roadside assistance coverage, and has increased wear-item and factory scheduled maintenance coverage. Specifically, it provides:
The program, originally introduced in June and offered only on MY2009 vehicles, has been extended through September and now includes MY2010 vehicles.
"It's important to note that these sales improvements have been generated by pure retail sales," said Greg Hembrough, VCNA sales & marketing manager in the Western Region. "It's clear that consumers are looking for underlying value and confidence in their purchase decision without compromising on luxury and durability. This is why Safe + Sound continues to be a success."
Volvo Cars of North America, LLC, (www.volvocars.com/us) is a subsidiary of Volvo Car Corporation of Gothenburg, Sweden. VCNA provides marketing, sales, parts, service, technology and training support to Volvo automobile retailers in the United States, and oversees Volvo operations in Canada.
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Contacts:
James Hope (949) 242-6654, jhope10@volvocars.com
