Volvo Aims to Keep Things Simple Against Its German Rivals
Volvo is avoiding all the complexities of modern vehicles in order to set itself apart from the luxury crowd.
To make a point on how Volvo is keeping things simple in its vehicles, CEO Hakan Samuelsson referenced three numbers: 55, 37 and eight. According to Samuelsson, 55 and 37 represents the number of buttons available in recently launched models from two of the three main German rivals BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz. Meanwhile, eight is the number of buttons needed to control the main functions in the all-new Volvo XC90.
Samuelsson’s point is that the newly revived brand won’t try to copy its rivals just for the sake of matching them, but rather is confident in what it has to offer. “No one wants buttons hidden down in the dark areas around the seats,” the CEO told the Automotive News Europe Congress.
SEE ALSO: Volvo Safety Tech Cuts Accidents by 28 percent
Volvo is working hard to reinvent the brand since it was purchased by China’s Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co. in 2010 by revamping its entire lineup and looking for unique ways to be original. One example that Samuelsson pointed to is an app-based service that allows a Volvo owner to have groceries or dry cleaning delivered to their parked vehicle. The app gives the delivery person one-time access to the car to drop off items, adding convenience for Volvo owners.
Unfortunately, this actually isn’t an entirely original idea since Audi has been working with Amazon in Germany to trial package drop-offs straight to the trunk of Audi vehicles through a similar method.
[Source: Automotive News]
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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Great plan. Audi, Mercedes, and BMW are always trying to one up eachother and go after the same market. Just one thing Volvo. Don't keep things simple and offer four shades of silver or black like the other guys .
Vulva should have an all awd lineup for those who want a Subaru but don't want to be associated with the same-sex crowd.