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Dubai, UAE: Volvo Cars has set a new, sixth consecutive global sales record in 2019, breaking the 700,000 cars sold mark for the first time in its 93-year history. The company recorded sales of 705,452 cars in 2019, an increase of 9.8 per cent compared to 2018, solidly outgrowing the overall market across all regions.
The new sales record is underpinned by continued strong demand for Volvo Cars’ award-winning line-up. Its three SUV models served as a particular highlight as the company gained market share in China, the US and Europe amid stagnating car markets.
The company also registered strong demand for its electrified vehicles, both in terms of registered sales as well as in retail orders. Overall, Volvo Cars sold 45,933 plug-in hybrid models in 2019, an increase of 22.9 per cent compared to 2018 and more than double the number in 2017.
“I am very pleased to see that for the first time in our history we sold more than 700,000 cars, while we gained market share in all our main sales regions,” said Håkan Samuelsson, chief executive. “We aim to build on this positive trend in 2020 as we start to roll out our Recharge range of chargeable Volvos.”
Illustrating the strength of its portfolio and its sales performance in 2019, Volvo Cars surpassed the previous full-year sales record of 642,253 cars, set in 2018, nearly a full month before the end of the year. December was the company’s best ever sales month, with an 23.4 per cent year-on-year increase to 74,239 cars sold.
In China, Volvo Cars sold 154,961 cars in 2019, an increase of 18.7 per cent compared to 2018 and comfortably outperforming the overall market. The result is an all-time record for Volvo Cars in China and the highest sales number it has ever reached in a single market.
In the United States, Volvo Cars sold 108,234 cars, breaking the 100,000 cars sold threshold for the first time since 2007. Compared to 2018, sales increased by 10.1 per cent.
In Europe, sales were particularly strong in Germany, where the company sold more than 50,000 cars for the first time in its history, while it realised its best sales result since 1990 in the United Kingdom.
Other markets that recorded their best ever sales performance in the company’s history included Australia, Belgium, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Korea, Poland and Portugal.
The XC60 SUV continues to be the best-selling car for the company globally, followed by the XC40 and XC90 SUVs, while the sedans and estates in the 90 and 60 Series also contributed to volume growth in China and Europe respectively.
This year, Volvo Cars will start to roll out its Recharge line-up in markets around the globe. Recharge will be the overarching name for all chargeable Volvos with a fully electric and plug-in hybrid powertrain.
The Recharge car line aims to further boost sales of Volvo Cars’ chargeable cars and encourage plug-in hybrid drivers via incentives to use Pure mode as much as possible. Volvo Cars aims for plug-in hybrid cars to make up 20 per cent of total sales in 2020.
Every Volvo model includes a Recharge option, from the small XC40 SUV via the 60 Series cars to the large XC90 SUV flagship. Volvo Cars is the only car maker to offer a plug-in variant on every model in its line-up. Soon, buyers can also opt for the XC40 Recharge P8, Volvo Cars’ first fully electric car.
A detailed break-up of regional sales is given below.
December | January-December | |||||
2018 | 2019 | Change | 2018 | 2019 | Change | |
Europe | 29,469 | 34,224 | 16.1% | 317,838 | 340,605 | 7.2% |
China | 11,868 | 16,908 | 42.5% | 130,593 | 154,961 | 18.7% |
US | 8,826 | 12,360 | 40% | 98,263 | 108,234 | 10.1% |
Other | 9,994 | 10,747 | 7.5% | 95,559 | 101,652 | 6.4% |
Total | 60,157 | 74,239 | 23.4% | 642,253 | 705,452 | 9.8% |
In 2019 XC60 was the top selling model with sales of 204,965 cars (2018: 187,339 cars), followed by the XC40 at 139,847 cars (2018: 75,828 cars) and the XC90 with sales of 100,729 (2018: 94,182 units).
Volvo Car Group in 2018
For the 2018 financial year, Volvo Car Group recorded an operating profit of 14,185 MSEK (14,061 MSEK in 2017). Revenue over the period amounted to 252,653 MSEK (208,646 MSEK). For the full year 2018, global sales reached a record 642,253 (571,577) cars, an increase of 12.4 per cent versus 2017. The results underline the comprehensive transformation of Volvo Cars’ finances and operations in recent years, positioning the company for its next growth phase.
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About Trading Enterprises – Volvo
Trading Enterprises, part of Al-Futtaim Automotive, is the exclusive distributor of Volvo cars in the UAE since 1985. The ISO9001:2008 company represents the world-renowned Volvo cars brand well known for its intuitive innovations, safety, environmental performance and Scandinavian design through its sales and after-sales network in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Trading Enterprises – Volvo offers a complete range of premium mobility solutions in the premium segment that includes: Sedans (S60 and S90), Versatile estates (V60 and V90) and Cross country vehicles (XC40 and XC60 and XC90). Trading Enterprises is regarded as pioneers in the region by Volvo when it comes to adopting Volvo best practices and has recently introduced the region’s first Volvo Retail Experience Showroom and Volvo Personal Service – which offers a human-centric approach to sales and service.
For more information on Trading Enterprises – Volvo, please call 800 8823 or visit www.tradingenterprises.ae/volvo
About Al-Futtaim Automotive
Al-Futtaim Automotive, one of the main four operating divisions within the UAE-based Al-Futtaim Group of companies, is a conglomerate of motoring-related businesses, franchising some of the world’s most-recognised automotive brands and services.
Operating in several countries across the Middle East, Asia and Africa and empowered by around 11,000 associates, the UAE-headquartered Group’s services span across distribution of new and used vehicles, manufacturing, leasing, logistics and aftersales.
Ranging from passenger cars to SUVs, commercial vehicles, industrial and construction equipment as well as motorbikes and quads, Al-Futtaim Automotive Group offers an integrative customer-centric experience for motorists, fleet operators and contractors alike, and strives to become the leader in tailor-made mobility solutions.
About Al-Futtaim
Established in the 1930s as a trading business, Al-Futtaim today is one of the most diversified and progressive, privately held regional businesses headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Structured into four operating divisions; automotive, financial services, real estate and retail; employing more than 42,000 employees across 25 countries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, we partner with over 200 of the world's most admired and innovative brands.
Al-Futtaim’s entrepreneurship and relentless customer focus enables the organisation to continue to grow and expand; responding to the changing needs of our customers within the societies in which we operate.
By upholding our values of respect, excellence, collaboration, integrity; Al-Futtaim continues to enrich the lives and aspirations of our customers each and every day. For more information visit: www.alfuttaim.com
For more information, please contact:
Lejo Johnny | Impact Porter Novelli
Tel: +971 4 330 4030 E: 440 | Mobile: +971 50 453 7023 | Email: l.johnny@ipn.ae
Saeed Klaib | Impact Porter Novelli
Tel: +971 4 330 4030 Ext: 423 | Mobile: +971 58 593 4333 | Email: s.klaib@ipn.ae
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