7:45 am, January 30, 2009
VOLVO Car UK is one of a handful of car makers not to experience declining fortunes in Britain.
This has led the company’s MD, Peter Rask, to say the Swedish brand is ‘not taking part in the UK recession.’
His comments come on the back of sales up nearly 11 per cent in 2008 – one of the few makers not to suffer big losses.
2009 has started equally positively, says Rask.
‘We are on a par with 2008 so far this year. This is in a market that is down by 37 per cent.’
‘Volvo UK is doing a sterling job.’
Rask says the improvements are down to the brand chiming with a more cautious economic climate.
‘Something happened in 2008. We were riding the wave of economic growth. Suddenly, that changed, into doom and gloom.’
‘At the same time, Volvo UK started picking up.’
Rask says this could be a paradigm shift for UK car buyers. ‘People want rational, real reasons as to why they should spend money.’
‘This is part of the Volvo DNA.’
Volvo will soon reinforce sales by launching a range of green DRIVe models. These cars feature cost-effective economy boosts to conventional diesel engines.
They offer low emissions and high fuel efficiency, at less cost than petrol-electric hybrids.
By Richard Aucock
