Volvo Launches S60 in India
Volvo Cars has launched its latest S60 sedan in Indian market with a beginning price tag of Rupees.27 lakhs (off road New Delhi). The sedan has been unveiled with both diesel & petrol engine choices. Diesel motor powering the Volvo S60 will be the similar 205 bhp D5 unit performing duty in S80 & the XC90. The 304 bhp petrol motor, but, promises a good performance. The petrol Volvo S60, badged T6, is able of blowing away BMW 330i with its 3litre, turbocharged, inline 6 cylinder motor with huge 44.8 kgm max torque on offer through a 6 speed gearbox. It will be a 4 wheel drive too & hence is more than the match for 3.2 V6 Quattro.
Volvo S60 comes laden alongwith safety attributes which no other sedan can match. It gets Pedestrian Detection scheme that brings the vehicle to the halt if it notices an imminent collision alongwith a pedestrian. It'll also use a brake to keep away from hitting the vehicle in frontage. Next on a list is Blind Spot Information System which alerts the rider if vehicle is in his blindspot & evaluates the possibility of the lane modify. It gets a max torque vectoring, state of art navigation scheme, radar base Adaptive Cruise Control, a reverse camera that can turn up to 178 degrees, Collision Warning alongwith auto Brakes. Volvo S60 will run on 16" wheels with a choice of 18" wheel as well. Volvo comes with a 2 year or 60000 km warranty. The D5 diesel gets 2 variants with prices beginning from Rs 27 lakhs for Kinetic, going up to Rupees 32 lakhs for the high-end Summum model. The great performance alongwith T6 Summum petrol at Rs 43 lakhs (prices ex-showroom Delhi).
Import SUV of the Year is Volvo XC60
Volvo XC60 has been awarded the ‘Import SUV of the Year’ by Car India Awards 2011. The award was offered to Paul de Voijs, Managing Director, Volvo Auto India. The Volvo XC60 is equipped with the latest generation D5 Twin-Turbo diesel engine. It is the first and only SUV in its class to present innovative equipment such as Laser Assisted Automatic Braking (City Safety), Turn with Steering Lights (Active Bending Lights), Haldex AWD (All Wheel Drive) with immediate TractionTM, Continuously Controlled Chassis Concept (FOUR-C) and Power Tailgate amongst others.
The Volvo XC60, which was launched in India in November 2010, has achieved a number of esteemed awards internationally United States: International Truck of the Year, UK: SUV of the Year, Australia: Best SUV car over $40,000, Germany: Paul Pietsch Award for City Safety, France: Innovation for Safety Award, Germany: Autoflotte Award, Russia: “Golden Klaxon”, the best compact crossover, Portugal: Innovation & Technology Award, Malaysia: Car of the Year with special mention of security award.
Volvo India to Launch S60 in India
Volvo is going to launch its popular super luxury sedan S60 in the next month in Indian market. Volvo S60 saloon will be worth around Rs. 30 Lakh. Volvo S60 will be imported to the country as a completely built unit which will attract a massive 110 percent excise duty. The muscular Volvo S60 has similar design flair as the Volvo XC60 crossover including the aggressive fascia, high waistline, and coupe like roof line. The car’s design is a refreshing change from the Germanic designs we see from European car-manufacturers.
The all new Volvo S60 is expected to be offered with the same 2400cc turbo diesel engine that is already available in the crossover Volvo XC60. The powerful engine of the saloon will be capable of generating a utmost power output of 205bhp. Volvo India managing director, Paul de Voijs , also hinted that the company would set up an assembly facility in India once the sales of Volvo Car India reaches 2000 units.
Volvos CNG Buses On Road In July 2011
Last month, when Volvo Bus Corporation bought out remaining 30% shares in its mutual venture Volvo Buses India from country based 30% shares, automobile industry was expecting the corporation to make an announcement about its future plans India. Now, the company on Wednesday said it estimated to introduce CNG variant of its Volvo 8400 city buses in the nation by the third section of the year. Mumbai and Delhi could probably be the cities where the CNG variant would be rolled out first, a top official of Volvo Bus Corporation (VBC) president Hakan Karlsson said. He, however, denied to reveal any details of order book for the same. The buses, which were undergoing field trials in Delhi, are expected to cost 15 to 20 per cent more than the present diesel version, he said. The buses, to be built at Volvo’s Hoskote facility, are presumed to help the company garner better share of the city bus segment in the country. In other news, the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation inaugurated Volvo bus depot in the city of Bangalore. Home and Transport Minister R Ashok was guest of honour on the event.
Volvo goes the German way: Plans XC30 baby SUV
The Swedish, it seems have decided to follow on the footsteps of fellow Germans. BMW recently launched the X1 a SUV smaller than the X3 in India as well as all over the world. Audi too plans a smaller SUV, Q3 and is expected to launch it in the country some time later and so is Mercedes Benz who are planning a junior SUV dubbed GLC. Volvo at present has the XC90 and the new Volvo XC60 SUV in its India portfolio and now we’ve heard that the company is planning a smaller, entry level SUV to rival the German cross-overs with the XC30. The XC30 won’t come to India until atleast 2013. But, we think it this segment of the market which up till now was ruled by the Toyota Fortuner will soon be hotting up.
It is an excellent news for those planning on investing around Rs. 25 lakh on a premium SUV. The only concern for us is that the premium European SUV invasion won’t include a 4×4 version, at least not for under Rs 30 lakh price tag. We will bring you more details on the Volvo XC30 as soon as get any official statement from Volvo. For now though, if you have a budget of around Rs 25 lakh and aren’t bothered about 4×4 much, go for the BMW X1.
Volvo India Launched XC60 In Hyderabad
Volvo Auto India launched it’s new mid-size SUV XC60 in Hyderabad yesterday. The new XC60 equipped with best class luxury, convenience and safety technology. Powered by 2.4-litre five-cylinder diesel engine which generate maximum power of 205bhp with minimum torque of 420Nm. Volvo claims that the new XC60 is the safest Volvo among the others that are currently sold in India. Volvo XC60 is priced at Rs 40.25 lakh (ex-showroom, Hyderabad). Sandeep Narayan, Director (Marketing and PR), Volvo Auto, said, “XC60 is a perfect embodiment of our brand’s core attributes of safety, comfort, quality, Scandinavian design and innovation. We are sure that in India, Volvo XC60 will provide us a competitive edge in its segment.”
The Volvo XC60 is a CBU and will come with the fourth-generation Haldex clutch to transmit power to the rear wheels, when it senses loss of traction on the front wheels. This same system is used in the Skoda Superb V6, Skoda Yeti and the Land Rover Freelander 2. It will come with three active chassis modes – Comfort, Sport and Advanced. The other characteristic is the turn with steering headlamps which will increase the visibility at night. “The pre-booking of the first batch of XC60 bears testimony to the faith our customers have for the Volvo brand, Narayan said, adding 90 cars have already booked. “We are looking at 15 to 18 per cent size of the luxury car segment,” he said.
Volvo buses buys out JV partner
Volvo Buses India Private Limited today announced the 100% buyout of Azad Group share, its JV partner since 2008. This increases Volvo Buses stake from the current 70% to 100% ownership. Volvo buses is witnessing increased demand from both private and institutional customers and this strategic move will provide Volvo Buses greater flexibility to expand and put in place ambitious growth plans in the coming years. The future includes an increase in production by close to 100% by 2012, catering to more export markets and to bring in products for new segments. The future potential that Volvo Buses is preparing for is symbolized in the bulk order of 100 Volvo 9400 multi-axle buses to Mr. Sankeshwar of Vijayanand Road Lines (VRL) Logistics.
To cater to the growing future demand and plans, Volvo Buses will augment its factory and establishment with new facilities for refurbishment operations, Customer Experience Lounge, New Integral production principles, a Competence Development Centre and Expand the paint shop. The Hosakote facility will thus expand almost 100% and will also result in a 30% increase in manpower in the coming two years.
Elaborating on the company’s expansion plans, Akash Passey, MD, Volvo Buses India Private Limited, added, “We have seen robust growth in 2010 in terms of order wins and production. Most importantly for us, we see the establishing of key concepts that will drive future progress – long-haul luxury travel is getting segmented with higher demands, the country is clear about its ambition of making public transport a key tool for sustainable cities and we at Volvo have built a strong base via a partnership with almost every key private, public and institutional customer. These new investments are aimed in not only fulfilling current expectations, but raising expectations and exceeding them in the near future.” The buoyancy is reflected in the 100 Volvo Multi-axle Buses order from VRL Logistics. “We have taken as much time to decide on these 100 Volvo Buses just as much as we took to decide on the 1st bus we bought from Volvo in 2002. This reflects the amount by which our confidence has grown in Volvo, in the Indian passenger demands and of course in our business, as a Corporate Brand that provides top notch transport services. India is changing and its partnerships like we have with Volvo and our customers, that are leading this progress towards safer, friendlier and more efficient travel experience.”
Volvo's strategy to continuously re-invent and improve its products and features was kept alive in 2010 by bringing in the CNG bus, introducing Euro IV regulations in its new facelift Euro IV city bus and the step to Volvo Bus Centers across key cities, to provide a higher level of service and experience for our customers and their drivers. Volvo is focused in offering the entire gamut of support services along with the product and is the first company to be singularly focused on only one business – buses. Volvo Buses expects a growth of 15% - 20% overall and the Soft services to give 50% of the revenue in 2013-14.
Rune Lundberg, Sr. Vice President, Volvo Bus Corporation & Chairman of the Board of Volvo Buses in India commented, “The Asian dream is coming together and we are watching promising demand and critical movement by key stakeholders and customers in India. Covering 12 cities with our city buses in just 2 years, is one indicator of how fast change is taking place. We could well Indian cities replicate what Volvo has done in Shanghai already with 14000 buses in the city’s fleet. Everyone is looking at us in India and Asia and this is now our home market. We will now not only sell here, but develop new products, export them to distant places and make this a key hub for the group.” Volvo Buses India will step up on its exports from 2011. Exports will account for 25-30% of total volumes of India over the next few years, over the current 5%. Volvo today has over 75% market share in the luxury inter-city AC coach segment and over 50% market share in the AC Diesel Low Floor City buses, which are present across 12 cities in the country. Last week Volvo City Buses entered its 12th city – Mumbai Currently, there are about 3500 Volvo Buses operating in India, both in the city and inter-city segments. The company is bullish on our growth in 2011 as the industry is buoyant about the future of the bus market in total and is stating a healthy growth level from 5-10% for the coming years.
Volvo To Ditch Premium Tag?
Volvo must abandon its quest to be considered ‘premium’ and come up with a new strategy, according to the firm’s recently installed boss, Stefan Jacoby. The Swedish manufacturer is re-evaluating its product plan in the wake of its takeover by Chinese firm Geely. Jacoby believes it needs to stop chasing the ‘premium’ market high ground currently held by BMW, Audi & Mercedes.
“Let’s ditch this talk about premium,” said Jacoby. “It sounds like a pricing strategy and it’s got an expensive ring to it. We need to focus on elegant Scandinavian simplicity, our own unique identity, and not copy our competitors.” Jacoby is targeting 800,000 sales per year by 2020, more than double the 380,000 units that Volvo expects to sell in 2010. He says that re-establishing the firm’s strength in the US market will be a crucial part of his plan.
“We have lost ground in the US,” explained the Volvo chief executive. “We are at the bottom, looking up.” Volvo India recently launched its compact SUV XC60 in the Indian market. Volvo also sells its Volvo S80 saloon as well as Volvo XC90 large SUV in India; it is soon going to launch its Volvo S60 saloon which will compete with the likes of Mercedes C class and BMW 3 series saloon.
{Source: Autocarindia}
Volvo Launches XC60 In India
Volvo India has launched the XC60 compact luxury SUV powered by the high performance latest generation D5 Twin-Turbo diesel engine, Volvo XC60 will be the only SUV in its category to offer unique features such as Laser Assisted Automatic Braking, Hill Descent Control (HDC), Turn with Steering lights (Active Bending Lights), Power tailgate, Dynamic Stability and Traction Control (DSTC), Roll Stability Control (RSC), Advanced braking technologies, Hydraulic brake assist, Protective Advanced safety technologies. Priced at Rs. 39.5 Lakhs (Ex-showroom, Delhi) and Rs. 41.41 lakhs (Ex-Showroom, Mumbai, incl. Octroi), the Volvo XC60 will be imported as CBU (Completely Built Units) from the company’s manufacturing facility in Ghent, Belgium.
“Volvo XC60 is a perfect embodiment of our brand’s core attributes of safety, comfort, quality, Scandinavian design and innovation. Heart-stopping looks coupled with innovative technology and off-road capabilities, it is a perfect blend of style and practicality. We are confident that in India, Volvo XC60 will give us a competitive edge in its segment,” Paul de Voijs, MD, Volvo India, said.
Volvo XC60 Set For a Launch on November 24th
Volvo India will launch the compact Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) Volvo XC60 on November 24 to strengthen its presence in the domestic market. The company said in a statement “Volvo XC60 owes its unique appeal to the synthesis of strikingly sporty design and a range of intelligent and stylish safety systems.” However, Volvo cars did not expose the price of the SUV.
Volvo Auto India Managing Director Paul de Voijs said “We believe in innovating for life and Volvo XC60 bears testimony to our commitment. It is necessary to establish the differentiator in one’s offering, The Volvo XC60 will not only redefine our technological DNA, but will also form an integral part of our volume expansion strategy for India going forward,”.
With the new compact luxury SUV, We’ll expand our offerings to the Indian customers. Volvo XC60’s technological innovations such as laser and camera assisted automatic braking would raise the bar in compact luxury SUV segment, he added. Volvo currently retails 2 premium models in India-luxury SUV Volvo XC90 and luxury sedan Volvo S80. The company currently has dealerships in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh, Hyderabad and Kochi. It would also soon open new dealerships in Coimbatore, Pune and Ahmadabad the statement added.