Volvo hits new heights after 13-month Australian sales blitz

Volvo Australia has bucked the local new car market's recent decline, recording its 13th consecutive month of sales growth in February, 2019.

In a market down 3.0 per cent last year, Volvo finished 2018 up no less than 43 per cent, it's 6693 unit total boosted by the March arrival, and subsequent popularity, of the XC40 compact SUV.

At the end of February 2019, Australian new car sales were down 8.4 per cent, yet Volvo's numbers continued to rise, the Swedish brand improving its year-on-year, year-to-date position by an impressive 32 per cent.

One of only a handful of brands to lift sales over the last 12 months the consistent improvement coincides with the appointment of Nick Connor as Volvo Car Australia managing director in March 2018.

With 20 years' international experience in a variety of senior roles across Volvo and Polestar (he was previously CEO of Volvo's performance subsidiary), Connor's connections and strategic know-how have obviously paid dividends.

Volvo Car Australia's director of corporate and public relations, Greg Bosnich told CarsGuide, "The company is currently blessed with an exceptionally strong public perception of the Volvo brand."

"We have the XC90 now underpinned by our smart, scalable platform, plus the compact XC 40, and our four-cylinder engine strategy has proved successful.

It's 6693 unit total was boosted by the March arrival, and subsequent popularity, of the XC40 compact SUV.

"We're also enjoying full supply of the XC60, which was limited at times last year, and Nick Connor's arrival has been a big plus," he added.

Mr Bosnich says there's no sign of Volvo's recent momentum slowing, with 2019 new model arrivals including the S60 mid-size sedan in August, and the V60 wagon version scheduled for November. The V90 Cross Country is also in line for a price re-positioning in the near future.

"We see potential for 30 per cent growth this year, supported by the styling, tech, safety features and environmental performance of our current model range," Mr Bosnich said.

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