Geely-owned Volvo Cars has reported a global year-on-year sales increase of 14.1% for the first quarter of 2018, as sales in all main markets increased compared with the same period last year.
Total sales in the quarter reached 147,407 cars, up from 129,148 cars a year earlier, as Volvo’s SUV line-up and the 90 series range as a whole proved popular with customers.
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The US market had a very good first quarter, growing its sales volume by 49.0% compared with the first quarter the year before to 20,083 cars. The XC90 and the XC60 SUVs were the best-selling models.
In China, Volvo Cars’ largest market, sales increased by 23.3% in the first quarter of 2018, compared with the first quarter the year before, following continued strong demand for the locally produced XC60 and S90 models. Total first quarter sales reached 28,768 cars, increasing from 23,335 in the same period 2017.
Volvo reported a solid 5.7% sales increase in Europe for the first quarter, compared with last year, selling 79,512 cars. This was a result of strong demand for the new XC60, the 90 series cars and the new XC40 small SUV, deliveries of which started in February.
Total sales for the month of March grew by 10.3% to 63,038 cars compared with a year earlier.
Retail sales status (deliveries to end customers) for Volvo Car Group is as follows:
- Europe: March 2017 – 35,623 units; March 2018 – 35,941 units; change – 0.9%; YTD 2017 – 75,245 units; YTD 2018 – 79,512 units; change – 5.7%
- China: March 2017 – 9,095 units; March 2018 – 10,700 units; change – 17.6%; YTD 2017 – 23,335 units; YTD 2018 – 28,768 units; change – 23.3%
- US: March 2017 – 5,356 units; March 2018 – 8,233 units; change – 53.7%; YTD 2017 – 13,476 units; YTD 2018 – 20,083 units; change – 49.0%
- Other: March 2017 – 7,084 units; March 2018 – 8,164 units; change – 15.2%; YTD 2017 – 17,092 units; YTD 2018 – 19,044 units; change – 11.4%
- Total: March 2017 – 57,158 units; March 2018 – 63,038 units; change – 10.3%; YTD 2017 – 129,148 units; YTD 2018 – 147,407 units; change – 14.1%
Globally, the new Volvo XC60 was the best-selling model in Q1, with 38,241 cars sold (2017: N/A), followed by the Volvo XC90, with 22,962 cars sold (19,170). The Volvo V40/V40 Cross Country was third, with 22,207 sold cars (23,546). Sales figures by model can be found in the Sales Volumes section of the Global Newsroom.
