Volvo trucks receive top ratings in USA
VOLVO TRUCKS RECEIVE TOP RATINGS IN USA The success story for Volvo's heavy-duty trucks in the VN Series continues. They are receiving top ratings from customers and sales are exceeding all expectations. Since the Volvo VN was introduced in September 1996, customers in the USA and Canada have signed orders for more than 40,000 trucks, which is far more than anticipated. As a result, Volvo's share of the market for trucks weighing more than 15 tonnes has improved in both countries during the past year. In October 1998, Volvo was the fourth largest truck make in the USA, with a market share of 11.8 per cent, an increase of 2.4 percentage points compared with October 1997. In Canada, Volvo advanced from sixth to third place between August 1997 and August 1998. Volvo's market share in Canada improved from 9.0 per cent to 12.8 per cent. Volvo VN ranked first in major survey The Volvo VN's popularity among customers is confirmed by a recent independent survey in which some 800 US truck owners were asked to rank their trucks. The survey involved the three most popular truck makes in US Class 8 - the Volvo VN, the Freightliner Century Class and the Kenworth T2000, all of which were introduced in 1996 or later. The Volvo VN was ranked as being by far the best of the three makes. Eight of ten Volvo VN owners were satisfied or very satisfied with their trucks. One-third of them gave the VN ten out of a possible ten points. None of the rival makes came anywhere close to figures of this kind. Among other things, the Volvo VN was rated best in its class in terms of comfort, safety, exterior and interior design and storage space. Nine of ten VN owners said that they would recommend the Volvo VN to other customers. "An extremely pleasing result," says Karl-Erling Trogen, president of Volvo Trucks. "Being ranked number one by what are perhaps the world's most demanding truck customers is the best recommendation we can hope for. The fact that we are simultaneously strengthening our position on the market proves that our long-term commitment to North America is now very definitely starting to pay off." "The 1998 Class 8 Heavy Truck Customer Satisfaction Study" was conducted between 26 May and 3 August by the Louis Harris & Associates consulting company. November 17, 1998 For more information, please contact: Tommy Kohle, Public Relations, Volvo Trucks, phone +46 31 66 65 17. ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1998/11/17/19981117BIT00200/bit0001.pdf http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1998/11/17/19981117BIT00200/bit0002.doc