Amazing things are happening at Volvo. The company has upgraded its luxury offerings by including a luxury lounge in its new XC90, and the company is investing in Peloton Technology, which should provide fuel savings to fleets. The company underwent its biggest change in 2010 when it sold majority interest to the Chinese holding company Zhejiang Geely in 2010. It seems that decision was for the best because Volvo is improving its brand, and refocusing on customer needs.
From Premium to Luxury with the XC90
The XC90s will be available to American buyers sometime in the fall, and they promise to showcase Volvo’s new dedication to luxury class. The vehicles feature new design architecture called SPA, which stands for Scalable Platform Architecture.
“Around 90 percent of the components in the all-new XC90 and upcoming models are new and unique,” says the company’s senior vice-president of research and development, Dr. Peter Mertens.
So, what are these components? For starters, the vehicles feature the all-new Excellence Lounge Concept, which doesn’t feature a front passenger seat. In its place is a lounge console. The lounge console features a 17-inch multimedia screen that can be altered into a large tray table.
The vehicles’ luxury is defined by its comfy massaging chairs, the champagne chiller, and the included crystal champagne flutes. When asked about pricing, the company’s marketing chief, Richard Monturo, said: “Customers have shown a willingness to pay us more money for our cars. A lot of our customers are highly affluent but buy a more discreet luxury.”
Some car owners want more than luxury; they want the power to both alter and maintain their own cars. If this is you, you may want to consider upgrading with aftermarket Volvo auto parts, which can transform the vehicle to your preferred specifications.
The Future of Fleet is Peloton Technology
According to Fleet Owner, “A study of Peloton’s system by the North American Council for Freight Efficiency and a major fleet, using the industry standard SAE Type II test, showed reductions in fuel consumption of 10 percent for the rear commercial vehicle and by more than 4 percent for the front vehicle… Volvo Group also noted that other U.S. and international studies of truck platooning have also shown high levels of fuel efficiency improvement.”
This technology promises to save fleet owners a lot of money in fuel costs, which is great for them and great for the environment. Moreover, the Peloton Technology promises to deliver improved safety technologies, such as collision mitigation, adaptive cruise control systems, vehicle-to-vehicle communications systems, radar-based active braking systems, and proprietary vehicle control algorithms.
Overall, Volvo seeks to transform fleets for the better. The company remains focused on technology-based solutions in order to reduce traffic congestion, and improve the safety and fuel-efficiency of its vehicles.
Volvo and its Customers
In an article published on Auto Trader, it’s reported that Volvo isn’t focused on sales. In this economy it can’t be known whether their new luxury vehicles or fleet trucks will do well. Instead of dwelling on numbers, Auto Trader writes that the company is more focused on the customer experience.
“What the economy will be like in just a few years is yet unknown, but Volvo claims its goal is not to sell the most cars, but to serve its customers’ needs – customers that want more and are willing to pay more to get what they want.”
It’s impossible to say what the future holds for Volvo, but who can deny this direction isn’t the right one for the vehicle manufacturer?
