Assar Gabrielsson founded Volvo Cars on 14 April 1927 in Sweden. With its headquarters in Gothenburg, Volvo Cars is well-known for making and distributing luxury vehicles worldwide. People often confuse AB Volvo, which manufactures construction equipment and heavy vehicles, with Volvo Cars. These have, in fact, been two separate companies since 1999. The Ford Motor Company bought the luxury vehicle maker in that year, and in 2010 a Chinese company called Geely Holding Group took over Volvo cars.
Volvo Cars sells the most vehicles in China followed by the USA and its native country Sweden.
In South Africa, Volvo vehicles are a popular choice amongst drivers who earn big money and those who love luxury. But it is not only its comfort, style, and elegance that attract buyers from around the globe.
According to crash tests, Volvo is also known as the maker of the world’s safest vehicles.
In a giant move for this car maker, it announced in July last year that all vehicles to be manufactured from 2019 will be either partially or fully powered by batteries. The company will launch five models from 2019 to 2021 that will be all electric. The rest of the range will all have some sort of hybrid engine. This decision was taken based on requests from clients, as well as legal requirements with regards to carbon emissions in Europe. The first of these new-age Swedish cars will be built in China.
In 2017, Volvo Cars also launched the Polestar brand. It will go on sale in 2019 and only 500 vehicles will be sold per annum. The Polestar 1 will demonstrate how well the combination of electrification and performance will work. Half of the parts of the Polestar is from other Volvo models and carbon fibre is used to make it lighter.
From 1 January this year, this Swedish maker of luxury cars uses renewable energy at its plant in Skövde, Sweden. At this factory, Volvo Cars makes all its engines. This bold step is the first of many to achieve it ultimate goal of becoming a climate-neutral operator by 2025. This plant will be only one of a few of these in Europe. In essence, it means that all heat generated in Skövde will come from waste and recycled products.
Thanks to its XC60 and the 90-series vehicles, Volvo Cars’ sales climbed by 7% in 2017. A total of 571 577 Volvo passenger vehicles were sold globally last year. Volvo credits its in-house design, technology, brand, and modular architecture for this achievement.
The XC60, named 2018 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year, is sporty, contemporary, and oh so stylish. It is the epitome of Swedish elegance.
The Volvo XC90 has won more than 120 awards across the globe. This luxurious SUV boosts four individuals seat. In other words, wherever you sit in the car you sit in comfort! This beautiful cross-over is now its second generation.
Volvo Cars is a tad behind other carmakers when it comes to the very popular compact SUV market. It only launched its first model in 2017. The XC40 is small, zippy, and in typical Swedish style stunning. With this car was introduced, Volvo Cars also launched its subscription scheme called Care by Volvo. Your short-term insurance, tax, roadside assistance, and maintenance will all be included in your monthly “subscription” fee.
Volvo Cars is definitely in the forefront of technology. Late last year, Volvo Cars announced that it will supply Uber with some 24 000 self-driving cars! Uber will get Volvo’s Xc90 SUVs with autonomous technology. If Uber decides to buy all 24 000 self-driving cars, it would be Volvo Cars’ biggest sale in this market to date.
Did you know that the Volvo’s logo is the symbol used to represent the planet Mars in Astrology? It is also the age-old sign for iron. It symbolises the strength of this metal used in the vehicles of Volvo Cars. Sweden is well-known for the quality of its iron.
In a recent survey done in China, it was found that drivers of this Swedish luxury car are educated, good citizens, they love their family, and uphold their morals.