Volvo Cars broke its all-time sales record in Australia during 2022, breaking the 10,000-unit barrier for the first time.
The company delivered 10,715 cars last year, up 18.7 per cent year-on-year (YoY). It compares to 9028 sales in 2021 and 7700 sales in 2020.
Volvo’s 2022 sales figure placed it 21st overall, and it outgunned brands such as Renault (8855), Lexus (7089), Jeep (6658) and Skoda (6502).
Top-seller was its XC40 with 5119 sales (up 38.8 per cent), sufficient to finish on top of its premium small SUV segment ahead of the Audi Q3 and Mercedes-Benz GLA.
Next were the XC60 (3465 sales) and XC90 (1258 sales) SUVs, ahead of the newly introduced C40 crossover (491), S60 sedan (222), and V60 Cross Country wagon (160).
Around 14 per cent of Volvo’s sales (1474) were pure electric, comprising the XC40 Recharge (983) and C40 (491).
MORE: Australia’s top-selling EVs in 2022
This made it number five on the EV sales charts, behind Tesla (19,594), Hyundai (2432), BYD (2113), and the part-Volvo-owned Polestar (1554). Volvo’s BEV range outgunned those of BMW (1290) and Mercedes-Benz (1166).
Volvo Australia announced last year it would go EV-only by 2026, four years ahead of the brand’s global deadline.
“In 2021 when I was appointed Managing Director, I stated 10,000 sales was very achievable for Volvo based on our consistent growth trajectory and the strength of our brand in the luxury SUV segment,” said MD Stephen Connor.
“Our performance over the past two years has reinforced my belief that Volvo can be a consistent top three player in our segment.
“I am very confident we can achieve this and accomplish our aspiration of selling 20,000 fully electric cars every year in Australia. By 2025 nearly 80 per cent of Volvo’s Australian sales will comprise fully electric models.
“We know Australian consumers are early adopters of new technologies, and they are embracing fully electric cars in increasing numbers as part of a practical response to combatting climate change. We believe this momentum will increase in the years ahead.”
Volvo EX90
The next major launch for Volvo in Australia is the new EX90, an electric replacement for the XC90 seven-seater. Global CEO Jim Rowan has also confirmed an all-electric Volvo EX30 small crossover will be launched next year, produced in China like many other Volvos.
Globally, Volvo has slated an ambitious sales target of 1.2 million cars per annum by 2025. That’s a 72 per cent increase over the company’s 2021 global sales tally.
Volvo Australia could also team up with its corporate parents at Geely in China to bring the electric Radar ute Down Under, as we learned last year.
