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Volvo boosts fleet sales with new Driv-e models
Date: 20 January 2011 | Author: Rachel Burgess
Volvo expects to grow its fleet sales this year with the introduction of four more Driv-e models, all anticipated to be sub-120g/km.
The S60 and V60 versions arrive in March, while the S80 and V60 are due in May. The only models that remain in the carmaker's range without the green badge are the XC90 and C70.
Drive-e sales of the C30, S40 and V50 amounted to 44% in 2010, up from a third in the previous year. National corporate sales operations manager James Shires said the company sees "significant opportunity for these three products in particular" after stop/start was introduced in October, which means the models now have 99g/km CO2, meaning 13% benefit-in-kind, plus road tax and congestion charge exemption.
Shires described the V50 as "the most versatile sub-100g/km estate car on sale in the UK".
He continued that the Volvo's corporate side spent the last year ramping up for the arrival of fleet-friendly cars. It grew its fleet sales team from four to six and also introduced a team of six business development managers.
While the original team will focus on developing larger fleet accounts, existing account management, formal tenders and public sector, the BDMs will handle conquest business, SMEs, and smaller fleets that previously have bought Volvos but have not done for the past two years. They are also supporting dealers' corporate sales, handling B2B sales leads and developing Volvo Car Leasing opportunities.
Volvo's dedicated business centres grew from 20 to 24 sites last year, with Shires saying this figure is "about right" moving forward.
In 2010, the company sold 19,934 fleet cars, up 19.7% from 2009 and accounting for 1.9% market share. Shires expects business sales to increase further this year, but did not say by how much.
Meanwhile, the manufacturer has scooped Safety Award at the 2011 What Car Awards, for its Pedestrian Detection with Full Autobrake system, available on the S60, V60 and XC60.
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