Volvo Australia breaks sales record

Volvo Cars Australia continued to buck the market’s downtrend, delivering record-high monthly sales results in May of this year.

The brand posted sales of 1121 units for the month, up 18.6% in May 2021, and thus overtook the heavily supply-constrained Audi (941 units, down 45.4%).

Volvo is the third best-selling luxury brand next month BMW (2534 sales, down 6.4%) and Mercedes-Benz (2282, down 9.7%) – better not only Audi, but also Lexus (680 sales) and Jaguar Land Rover (480).

The brand’s May sales were also ahead of Renault (837), Jeep (615) and Skoda (528).

It is clear that the company has fewer supply problems from its Swedish (XC90) and Chinese (XC40 and XC60) factories than its high-end rivals.

The Volvo XC40 Topped the premium compact SUV market with sales of 613 people and a market share of 30.6%, leading Mercedes-Benz GLA and BMW X1. Impressively, the charging model XC40 accounts for 28% of this total.

Bigger XC60 4th in its segment with 307 sales, just behind Mercedes-Benz GLC (312) but go first Lexus NX (231, with a waiting list of more than a year in some cases).

The XC90 seven seats found 156 buyers in May, ranking fifth in the following segment BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz GLE, Lexus RX and Range Rover Sportbut go first Porsche Cayenne and Land Rover Defender.

Volvo’s S60 sedan (22 sales in May) and V60 Cross Country (23) are much more niche propositions, with the three core SUVs remaining as its underpinning vehicles.

As of now, Volvo is fourth, but its five-month sales figures (4598, up 5.6%) are very close to that of Audi (4690, down 36.7%). If the trend continues, Volvo maybe year-end as Australia’s number three premium car brand.

On the product front, the company has expanded the XC40 Recharge EV range with a cheaper single-engine variant, replace the now banished PHEV model. In addition, the all-new C40 electric crossover is also on sale, priced from $74,990 before on-road.

“May was another standout month for Volvo, which continues to outperform its competitors in the luxury segment,” said CEO Stephen Connor.

“Having a record for our biggest sales month is an impressive feat when you consider the overall Australian car market down 6.4% and the premium segment down 14.4%.

“Volvo is recording double-digit year-over-year growth, which strengthens Volvo’s position as one of the fastest growing and respected luxury car brands in Australia.”

Mr. Connor said he wants the company’s all-electric line to drive further growth and is predicting more than half of its sales will be electric from 2025 onwards.

“The future of Volvo Cars is electric and I intend to put Australia at the forefront of our global strategy by staying ahead of our stated global goal.” Mr. Connor said. On this note, its unpaid order bank as of April 30 including 60% EV and PHEV.

Volvo’s next big cab will be Brand new, replace the electric XC90will be revealed in the last quarter of 2022. It has been previewed by Concept Recharge and will share a platform with The new Polestar 3 is sleeker.