SWEDEN AND US REPORT GROWTH IN DECEMBER
3/1/2013.- Volvo Car Group (Volvo Cars) reports global retail sales of 38,555 cars for the month of December, representing a 7.2 per cent decline versus December 2011. Sales increased significantly in the United States and Sweden, driven by strong demand for the Volvo V40, S60, V60 and XC60 models. For the full year 2012, global retail sales amounted to 421,951 cars, representing a decrease of 6.1 per cent versus 2011.
The United States was Volvo Cars’ largest market in December with retail sales of 6,150 cars, up 15.1 per cent versus the same month in 2011. Sales were primarily driven by strong customer demand for the Volvo S60 and XC60 models.
Sweden came in second in December with retail sales of 5,598 cars, representing an increase of 17.5 per cent versus the same month in 2011, boosted by the new Volvo V40 as well as growing sales of the Volvo V60. Volvo Cars in Sweden had a market share of 22.8 per cent in December.
Europe was characterised by continued uncertainty among consumers leading to a decline for Volvo Cars’ retail sales in December. However, sale of the new Volvo V40 has been successful with strong demand across Europe.
In China, fierce competition among the European luxury brands continued to boost incentive levels and Volvo sales deteriorated. Nonetheless, sales of the Volvo XC60 were the highest ever in China with 1,999 cars.
Retail sales status (deliveries to end customers) for Volvo Cars is as follows:
| December | January – December | ||||||
| 2011 | 2012 | Change | 2011 | 2012 | Change | ||
| China | 5 763 | 4 356 | -24,4% | 47 140 | 41 989 | -10,9% | |
| USA | 5 342 | 6 150 | 15,1% | 67 273 | 68 079 | 1,2% | |
| EU20* | 20 285 | 19 635 | -3,2% | 252 217 | 227 027 | -10,0% | |
| of which Sweden | 4 766 | 5 598 | 17,5% | 58 463 | 51 832 | -11,3% | |
| Rest of World | 10 137 | 8 414 | -17,0% | 82 625 | 84 856 | 2,7% | |
| TOTAL | 41 527 | 38 555 | -7,2% | 449 255 | 421 951 | -6,1% | |
For the full year 2012, the Volvo XC60 was the best-selling model and had its best year ever with 106,203 sold cars (2011: 97,183), followed by the Volvo S60 for which deliveries reached 64,746 cars (68,330) and the Volvo V60 with 53,037 cars (49,820). Historical sales figures by model can be found in the Sales Volume section of the Global Newsroom.
*EU20 includes Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, Belgium/Luxemburg, France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Portugal, UK, Ireland, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Poland, Hungary and Czech Republic.
More information:
Text and photograph by: Volvo.
