Volvo sales continues to climb

Swedish automaker Volvo Car Corp recently revealed their China sales result for the first half of this year. In the first six months, the company's sales in China climbed 81%, with their locally-made Volvo S40 showing extremely good performance.

Volvo Cars did particularly well in China in the recent two years, with sales volume growing at an average of 50 percent per annum. "We almost doubled our sales volume in 2006, and our aim is to do the same again in 2007," says Fredrik Arp, President and CEO of Volvo Car Corporation. "To us, China is the most exciting market in the world. It is a vital part of our sales growth plan, and we believe that in the next 5 to 10 years China will move up to the second place in Volvo's car sales chart.

The luxury Volvo S80 sedan and the luxury Volvo XC90 SUV are two of the most important models in China. In 2006, they accounted for more than half of the total sales volume. The Volvo S80 offers true Scandinavian luxury to car fans and the latest version of this top-of-the-line car has made it even more attractive.

The latest XC60 concept car was exhibited at the Shanghai Auto Show in April, which showcases Volvo's advanced technology. The limited edition S40 2.4L, priced at 298,000 Yuan, was also launched in the same month.

In addition, the new C30 will be introduced to the Chinese market in the second half of this year. It will target newer and younger customers who are looking for a stylish car which is fun to drive.

It is worth noting that Volvo S40 has gained customer recognitions nationwide since it was produced in China last July, and the year to date sales of the model surged month after month, giving a big boost to Volvo's overall sales growth in China.