Volvo cars February sales volume down 2% year-on-year

[Lexman8]

From Reuters:

Volvo Cars' sales fell 2% in February from a year earlier to 50,315 cars, the Sweden-based group said on Tuesday, pointing to the timing of the Lunar New Year in China as an explanation for the decline.

Volvo Cars, majority-owned by China's Geely Holding, said in a statement sales of fully electric cars were up 14% in total, and accounted for 22% of all sales globally in the month.

In China, sales were down 39% compared to the same month last year, due to the timing of the Lunar New Year, which mainly took place in February, according to Volvo Cars.

Sales in Europe grew 26%, with sales of fully electric cars increasing 31% from a year ago. In the United States, sales fell 7%, with sales of fully electric cars declining by 63%.

Shares in Volvo Cars were down 2.3% by 0814 GMT.

[James77]

Lack of choice in range?
Dropping traditional estate models (in UK at least) possibly alienating core customer base?
Nonsensical charge to full electrification when most of the world really aren't ready and consumers haven't bought into or want it yet?
Over priced models such as forthcoming EX90?
Poorly implemented (and developing) AAOS system?
Lack of options in range prefer the BMW model where you pick packs with Volvo you'll end up with features you don't want, or want to pay for?
Just a few possibilities.

[sk546]

Originally Posted by James77

Lack of choice in range?
Dropping traditional estate models (in UK at least) possibly alienating core customer base?
Nonsensical charge to full electrification when most of the world really aren't ready and consumers haven't bought into or want it yet?
Over priced models such as forthcoming EX90?
Poorly implemented (and developing) AAOS system?
Lack of options in range prefer the BMW model where you pick packs with Volvo you'll end up with features you don't want, or want to pay for?
Just a few possibilities.

If you actually read the full article rather than just the headline, European sales were up by 26% over the previous year. It was the China and US markets that were down resulting the the overall 2% drop.

Read into that what you will but without an actual UK market sales result we can only go with being lumped into the Euro sales.

[James77]

Originally Posted by sk546

If you actually read the full article rather than just the headline, European sales were up by 26% over the previous year. It was the China and US markets that were down resulting the the overall 2% drop.

Read into that what you will but without an actual UK market sales result we can only go with being lumped into the Euro sales.

China and US are by far the largest markets so 26% in European market is a small increment.

[chrisrixy]

Originally Posted by James77

Lack of choice in range?
Dropping traditional estate models (in UK at least) possibly alienating core customer base?
Nonsensical charge to full electrification when most of the world really aren't ready and consumers haven't bought into or want it yet?
Over priced models such as forthcoming EX90?
Poorly implemented (and developing) AAOS system?
Lack of options in range prefer the BMW model where you pick packs with Volvo you'll end up with features you don't want, or want to pay for?
Just a few possibilities.

I think you have it exactly right with that list. The model breakdown includes the EX30 for the first time - so hardly surprising electric sales are up compared to Feb 23. Without those 3500 sales the like for like sales of other models is down nearer 5%. Volvo UK should note the biggest increase in sales of any model are for the V60 & V60CC...

70% of sales in USA are still petrol, as are 95% of sales in China - will they really stop the sales of petrol cars completely in just 6 years?

https://www.media.volvocars.com/glob.../sales-volumes

[JonathanD]

Originally Posted by chrisrixy

Volvo UK should note the biggest increase in sales of any model are for the V60 & V60CC...

Most if not all of those increased sales by Volvo UK of the V60 and V60CC would have been to emergency services spec for police forces given Joe and Josephine Public can no longer order them.

[chrisrixy]

Originally Posted by James77

China and US are by far the largest markets so 26% in European market is a small increment.

According to the sales figures for February China & USA each had sales of about 8000 cars, while Europe were about 27000 - so on those figures Europe is currently more important..

[adambsmith]

Originally Posted by chrisrixy

According to the sales figures for February China & USA each had sales of about 8000 cars, while Europe were about 27000 - so on those figures Europe is currently more important..

I was just looking at those figures too.

European sales account for 53% of Volvo’s total car sales during Feb 24.
China sales account for 16% (lower than normal due to the lunar new year)
US sales also account for 16%.

The European market is currently far larger than the US and China put together.

Source: https://www.media.volvocars.com/glob...trified-models

[chrisrixy]

Originally Posted by JonathanD

Most if not all of those increased sales by Volvo UK of the V60 and V60CC would have been to emergency services spec for police forces given Joe and Josephine Public can no longer order them.

The sales increase for the V60's was a worldwide figure - there is no breakdown for the UK unfortunately. But it seems extraordinary that Volvo UK have decided not to market the V60 (apart from to emergency services). It is still being built in RHD for other markets (Ireland for a start) so with all the development costs spent why on earth don't they want to sell it? The move to SUV only seems to go against the claim to be eco friendly as SUV's clearly have lower economy based on aerodynamics alone.

Just handing the estate market to the germans with VW, Skoda, BMW & Marc all keeping estates...

[James77]

Originally Posted by chrisrixy

The sales increase for the V60's was a worldwide figure - there is no breakdown for the UK unfortunately. But it seems extraordinary that Volvo UK have decided not to market the V60 (apart from to emergency services). It is still being built in RHD for other markets (Ireland for a start) so with all the development costs spent why on earth don't they want to sell it? The move to SUV only seems to go against the claim to be eco friendly as SUV's clearly have lower economy based on aerodynamics alone.

Just handing the estate market to the Germans with VW, Skoda, BMW & Marc all keeping estates...

Does seem incredible Volvo gifted market share to competitors. I agree the S90/60 weren't doing so well if you wants a large or medium 'sedan' you buy a BMW 3/5 but the 'station wagon' versions are traditional Volvo territory and they were selling well always will they were and also great looking cars far nicer than German offerings.
Volvo could end up a niche manufacturer shareholders demand return for investment how long before they boot out CEO if the gamble doesn't pay off. Petrol/Diesel aren't going anywhere soon the market is strong. Not looked in detail at the situation but this is a commercial environment sustainability (if you live in a parallel world where electric is sustainable) is second to maximixing shareholder return.