Volvo wagon sales increased 11% in the United States in January 2015.
An 11% improvement represents a scant increase of 67 units compared with January 2014.
Volvo USA sold 650 XC70s, V60s, and V60 Cross Countrys last month, equal to just 17% of the brand’s total.
The new XC90 hasn’t arrived yet, prompting a 92% year-over-year decline, but the XC60 small luxury crossover jumped 61% to 1517 units, more than double the number of sales achieved by the brand’s more traditional wagons.
It’s also true that two of those wagons are hardly wagons at all, as the V60 and V60 CC offer little of a historic Volvo wagon’s boxy flexibility. On another front, the XC70 and V60 Cross Country try to shake wagon stigma with SUV styling cues. Regardless, it’s abundantly clear that even in an improved month for Volvo wagons, these are no longer the brand’s heavy lifters.
Timothy Cain is the founder of GoodCarBadCar.net, which obsesses over the free and frequent publication of U.S. and Canadian auto sales figures.
This would be great news because not only do I like Volvo, I like to see wagons gain.
Even if my wife will not allow…glad to see somebody still has balls enough to get what they want!
sorry, gotta go…think I am being “summoned”…..
wow!
I’m impressed that Volvo can sell 300 V60, which I really liked, a month. I don’t think Acura ever sold that many Sportwagons.
In 2012, Acura was selling around 353 TSX wagons a month. Volvo averaged 416 V60 sales/month in 2014.
Thanks, I bought mine in April when there were a bit over 300 left, there are 3 left now (cars.com) Guess that’s the result of not updating the car.
In other words, almost nobody buys Volvos.
^ Lol … I laughed.
Perhaps very few in North America, but 2014 was Volvo’s best sales year ever worldwide.
My local Volvo dealer actually spent money in 2014 on a complete remodel of their facility. They must be expecting Americans to start buying Volvos again. I’ll be taking a test drive of the new XC90 for sure. It actually looks a lot more Volvo-ish than the current V60, S60 and XC60. That’s a good sign for them
Is that remotely true? Did Volvo really sell more care worldwide in 2014 than they did in any other year?
Never mind. I picked 1999 at random, and they sold about 50,000 more cars then than they did in 2014.
When I read the headline I thought “11% gain, so now they sold 12 cars a month? ” and it seems I was almost spot-on.
Tim really has some of the the best articles on TTAC with actual facts. but I wish the headlines would not be on “USAToday” level.
what’s next?: “Mitsubishi doubled sales!” = meaning 2 more cars.
Edit: to give Tim credit, the article has actually factual and useful information. I love his articles.
As you’ve proven, you know better than to believe that an 11% wagon gain at Volvo has any real meaning. The headline was designed with the knowledgeable B&B in mind – “They’ll know it was facetious” – and the purpose of the chart and text were to show just how low sales of wagons are at Volvo, THE wagon automaker. TTAC commenters are far too automotively aware to be fooled, and I wouldn’t bother (nor do I have any reason to bother) to try and trick the readers.
very good point…. even when not everyone stumbling across TTAC will have that much knowledge (they will after being readers for a while :)
I could imagine there is a core of TTAc readers and commenters that know what an M36 or 939 (or is it 393?)is…. but there may be casual readers or people that accidentally went from CD to TTAC.
Anyway, your articles are great and as neutral as possible given the data. They show why TTAC is needed in this world of paid press.
Volvo was nearly ruined by Ford ownership, which then off-loaded it to a Chinese company. Many Volvo outlets closed during the huge sales decline that ensued while no one was clear about what would happen with Volvo. Well, Volvo has remained in Sweden and retained its Swedish flair. They are good cars, but Volvo still suffers from a limited US model range, and too few dealerships in some areas. The XC90 should be a hit. And remember, before last year’s intro of the V60, Volvo sold no wagons at all for several years, having discontinued both the V40 and V70 years ago. All in all, Volvo will do better when they get their 40 series and 90 series products on line here. Unfortunately, they are as slow as Lincoln at introducing new models.
Volvo would’ve been in better shape if they hadn’t had so many quality control issues by the time Ford brought them out.
If anything Ford saved them, then built the Flex, the closest thing to a “real Volvo” you can get.
The Peugeot-Renault alliance of the mid-70’s didn’t play out well either. China’s possibly the last hurrah for Volvo passenger.
My only recollection of an “alliance” among these 3 automakers was their joint development of a new V6 engine. Was there something more?
The 850 rear suspension (“Delta Link” was what they called it in sales literature) supposedly had some French influence. It was a pretty good design, FWIW.
It was a good design patented by Volvo, then subsequently ditched for unknown reasons.
61% jump is great, but I wasn’t aware that Volvo was selling less than 4-figures (just 942) a month of the XC60 last year. Even the S60 is dismal in sales.
A mere 575 units constitutes a 61% jump!
The fact that Mercedes sold 1,505 Sprinter Vans last month, which is the worst volume mover for under the Mercedes badge, is near the best for Volvo. Worst, XC70, V60, and the S80 were handily outsold by the Smart Car (which is considered a sales failure).
A Volvo wagon would be my wife’s dream car. But like much of the middle class we’re squeezed by real estate prices, saving for college, health insurance, student loan debt, and playing catch up with retirement savings. No room in the budget left for a (minimum) $41k car.
+1 on the cost.
Also, past experience with neighbors with Volvos was that maintenance and parts were close to Mercedes in cost.
Good luck if you like to keep a car beyond the warranty period.
So you spoke with neighbors and made a conclusion?
Very scientific sample there.
Hahahahaha
Volvo had a material advantage on safety for quite some time and it was core to their marketing campaigns. Ford adopted all of that safety tech when they acquired volvo, essentially making safety a mass market standard. Now it appears there is essentially no gap in safety between most mid-sized cars and a volvo. Volvo, a chinese company, is now going to try to market to american consumers based on safety and scandanavian design? I don’t think so. There is zero reason for the volvo premium today.
Oh please, you haven’t even driven one, obviously.
The premium over comparable Fords is slim and if you don’t see the difference you belong in a Fusion. You’ll be happy with that.
I own both Volvos and Fords. But the Ford is a truck. I wouldn’t try to claim it has the suspension, solidity, handling, or style of the Volvo. The mainstream Volvos are sub $40K with real world discounts. Same as comparable Fords. Higher end Volvos like the R designs offer things Ford can’t dream of in handling. If you see carse as boxes and the sum of its space and power, then by all means buy a wallowing American crossover or bland midsize car.
Um no.
Nice try though.
Keep telling yourself that safety just trickles down to all other makes.
Companies set priorities.
Volvo prioritizes safety.
Many others now pay for time at Volvo’s safety facilities.
“Me too” and “we can earn five stars from IIHS and NHTSA” are not confidence inspiring safety programs.
Volvo sets their own standard.
Lemmings tell themselves that their cars are safe too.
Marketers know this, and hoodwink you every time.
Talk to first responders to really bad accidents.
+1. That’s the reason why the ancient XC90 put down a stellar performance in a new IIHS test recently – when even Mercedes, ambitious on its own, failed. Talk to insurances and first responders and they will offer a clear picture, too.
That may have been true when I was a kid, but I’m not seeing evidence of it now.
What I am seeing is evidence of every car maker using FEA and HPC to model crash safety, and a lot of them are coming up with good designs. That’s a win all around, and I’m not aware of Volvo being anything other than competent-like-everyone-else here.
When cars like the Audi A4 get a flat-out POOR rating in a safety category (small front overlap), it’s clear that the mythical “every modern car is as safe as the next one” is just not true:
http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/vehicle/v/audi/a4
” I’m not aware of Volvo being anything other than competent like the others” Go to http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/vehicle/v/volvo/xc90 and watch the video of the 10 year old design XC90 in the small front overlap crash video. Unlike most other cars it just glances off the barrier. Then go watch the 2015 Ford Escape in the same test. Pay close attention to the dummy’s head and read the analysis. Some vehicles are more competent than others.
Clearly most new car-buying Americans just don’t think of Volvo beyond the 70s-80s wagons hipsters loved for a time. I just don’t think Volvo is competitive. Expired design theme not withstanding (S80/XC70).
The new 2015s/2016s from mainstream brands are equipped enough, safe enough, have good enough space and good enough AWD that going up to the Volvo premium for dubious reliability just seems unnecessary. From the luxury stand-point Volvos are good, but not enough to say no to the BMW or Audi you really want. I feel like the Volvo buyer of yesteryear would rather have a GTI, a 3-Series anything, or loaded Outback let alone the millions of $30-55k crossovers that have killed wagons and therefore Volvo.
The XC60 is a crossover, it has to sell. The fact that it’s aged remarkably well has kept Volvo afloat. The upcoming XC90 is also a crossover; sales on the strength, but better than that it seems different, fresh and dare I say BETTER than it’s competition.
Volvo needs to step their game up and do above and beyond if they are to recover.
Dubious reliability? They’re rated above average in the recent initial quality http://www.jdpower.com/press-releases/2014-us-initial-quality-study-iqs
and a little below average on 3 year dependability http://www.jdpower.com/press-releases/2014-us-initial-quality-study-iqs
Hardly troublesome, as statistically they’re not that much off the top makes. Mercedes and BMW have improved quite a bit in the latest report, but real world owners (such as myself) can tell you that have generally been expensive to keep out of warranty. Meanwhile, 6 years of Volvo ownership and ZERO dealer trips except for the free maintenance. I was in the shop with one BMW every two months for two years. The freaking coolant gauge broke, the door handle broke, it stalled in the driveway, the tail lights went out several times, it was certainly no prize.
I’ll give you that. I haven’t owned either so I have no real-world reliability experiences to counter and the stats check out. The XC60 is a product Volvo nailed. Volvo just has a challenge selling the rest of their cars vs the competition.
The most reliable cars in Germany:
1. Toyota
2. Mazda
3. Volvo
http://www.autobild.de/artikel/exklusiv-auto-bild-qualitaetsreport-2014-5493657.html
The arrows are pointing straight up for the Swedes, they have refocused after a weaker period about ten years ago.
I built that many in my garage last year. Bits and pieces here and there, but I did it. 23 Volvos out the door in 2013. Could I be a dealer? No. I don’t want to lose money.
You built them?
To scale?
If they want to sell big they need to make more affordable models, and get their “square” back, don’t let Ford and Scion hog it all up.
Great news. I’m a big fan of the V60 (though not its back seat), even in Drive-E trim. The press seems to like it as well (despite this quirk).
What kills me is the S60 being just under about 1400 units and the S80 moving 212. They are same fracking car for heaven’s sake, and its not as if the S80 is a boat its 8.5 inches longer than the S60 and .1 inches thinner in width. If they both sold poorly you could argue well the fake SUVs win over fake people, but people are still leasing or buying the sedans. I just don’t get it.
MY15 S80
Exterior Dimensions
Height 58.8 in. 58.8 in.
Length 191 in. 191 in.
Width 73.3 in. 73.3 in.
Wheelbase 111.6 in. 111.6 in.
http://www.volvocars.com/us/all-cars/volvo-s80/specs-features/Pages/specs-features.aspx
MY15 S60
Exterior Dimensions
Height 58.4 in. 58.4 in. 58.4 in.
Length 182.5 in. 182.5 in. 182.5 in.
Width 73.4 in. 73.4 in. 73.4 in.
Wheelbase 109.3 in. 109.3 in. 109.3 in.
http://www.volvocars.com/us/all-cars/volvo-s60/specs-features/Pages/specs-features.aspx
Turn circle: 37 feet (boo, hiss!)
850: 33 1/2 feet
240: 32 1/2 feet
140: 31 1/2 feet
Nope, it sure isn’t your Uncle Olaf’s Volvo anymore.
Uncle Olaf has been shut out of the design room for twenty years.
Oh, that 140…I scared quite a lot of people in my former ’71 145 doing sudden full turns on roads and in tight spots. Not that it matters if you strike down a house or a tank or two: These cars had bumpers putting bumper cars to shame.