Volvo sales hit new RECORD in first half of 2018

Volvo reports sales for the first six months of 2018 hit 317,639 cars, an increase of 14.4 per cent on 2017 and a new record first half for Volvo.

Volvo has been on a roll since the current XC90 arrived in 2015, redefining Volvo as a cool maker of premium cars with a very Scandinavian feel. 

The 90 Series Volvo range is now rolled out, the new 60 Series started properly last year with the new XC60 and has now been joined by the new V60 and S60, and the XC40 is out there selling as Volvo starts to deliver the new 40 Series cars.

There are still a couple of new 40 Series models to come – the new V40 and S40 – perhaps some niche coupes and convertibles and, of course, electric Volvos, first in the shape of an electric XC40 and, in 2022, by an electric XC90.

What’s impressive is that all the cars Volvo has delivered in them last few years have won overwhelming praise from buyers and reviewers alike, and that’s reflecting in Volvo’s sales numbers, with the first half of 2018 setting a new record for half year sales.

Sales for the first six months of 2018 are up by 14.4 per cent to 317,639, with sales in the US up almost 40 per cent, in China by 18.4 per cent and in Europe by 5.7 per cent.

The best-selling model so far this year is the new XC60 with 88,786 sales, followed by the XC90 with 47,658 and the Volvo V40 with 41,554. The new XC40 had sales of 23,741, but that should rise significantly in the second half as sales of the new model start to roll in properly.

Onwards and upwards.