Volvo

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A cull of overlapping dealerships by the Swedish brand has left the 99-strong retail network with an average new car throughput of 411, compared with 300 in 2012.

Volvo continues to win sales with its current range, with the V40 premium hatchback and V60 family car the subject of particularly keen contract hire offers. The arrival this summer of its new flagship XC90 seven-seater SUV has caused a stir among dealers and consumers, with demand for the £45,000+ car likely to exceed supplies in its first year.

The XC90 marks a change at Volvo and is the first in a series of replacement products due before the end of 2018, including an executive saloon, large estate car, new XC60 and a V40 replacement, incorporating plug-in hybrid derivatives. Dealers are investing in a new ‘shop-window’ showroom style under the Volvo Retail Experience banner, and the adoption of multi-skilled technicians who’ll engage with service customers directly is expected to boost customer satisfaction and productivity.