Volvo Cars’ first quarter 2017 operating profit rises 11 per cent to SEK3.5 billion
Volvo Cars, the premium car maker, reported an operating profit of SEK3.5 billion for the first three months of the year, up 11 per cent from SEK3.1 billion during the same period last year. The increase was mainly driven by strong demand for the company’s XC60 and 90 series cars.
Volvo Cars reported an operating profit margin of 7.3 per cent, down from 7.5 per cent last year. Profitability was partly offset by costs related to the launch of the new 90 series cars and the new XC60, as well as continuous investments in new technologies and a rising number of employees. Since the first quarter 2016, Volvo Cars has welcomed almost 5,000 new employees, bringing the total global work force to 33,000.
Global retail sales increased by 7.1 per cent to 129,148 cars in the January to March period, resulting in a first quarter revenue of SEK47.6 billion, up 13 per cent from SEK42.0 billion last year.
“In the first three months we have seen strong demand for our 90 series cars as they reached markets worldwide,” said Håkan Samuelsson, president and chief executive. “We also unveiled the new XC60 in the first quarter and we expect this car to have a positive impact on sales and profitability.”
In March, Volvo Cars unveiled the new XC60 model at the Geneva motor show, which was received to great acclaim. Later this year, Volvo Cars will launch the XC40, based on the new CMA small vehicle platform, positioning the company for further growth in the fast growing SUV segment.
More details about the first-quarter results can be found on the Volvo Cars Investor Relations website.
| Key figures | Q1 2017 | Q1 2016 |
|---|---|---|
| Net revenue, MSEK | 47,592 | 42,027 |
| Operating income, EBIT, MSEK | 3,491 | 3,145 |
| EBIT margin, % | 7.3 | 7.5 |
| Net income, MSEK | 2,606 | 2,069 |
| Cash flow from operating and investing activities, MSEK | -2,304 | -323 |
The Asia Pacific region reported sales growth of 16 per cent in the first quarter to 32,872 cars, boosted by a strong performance in China, Volvo Cars’ largest market. There, sales rose by 18.8 per cent to 23,335 cars, following strong demand for the locally-produced XC60 and S60L models as well as the XC90 and S90.
Sales in the EMEA region increased by 9.2 per cent to 78,820 cars sold, on the back of a strong performance in Sweden, the United Kingdom and Germany. The region continued to see strong demand for the new V90 and XC90 as well as Europe’s most popular premium mid-size SUV, the XC60.
The Americas region reported sales of 16,641 cars, of which 13,476 in the United States. The XC60 remained the best-selling model in the Americas.
This information is information that Volvo Car AB is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, at 06.00 CET on 28 April 2017.
Volvo Car Group in 2016
For the 2016 financial year, Volvo Car Group recorded an operating profit of 11,014 MSEK (6,620 MSEK in 2015). Revenue over the period amounted to 180,672 MSEK (164,043 MSEK). For the full year 2016, global sales reached a record 534,332 cars, an increase of 6.2 per cent versus 2015. The record sales and operating profit cleared the way for Volvo Car Group to continue investing in its global transformation plan.
About Volvo Car Group
Volvo has been in operation since 1927. Today, Volvo Cars is one of the most well-known and respected car brands in the world with sales of 534,332 cars in 2016 in about 100 countries. Volvo Cars has been under the ownership of the Zhejiang Geely Holding (Geely Holding) of China since 2010. It formed part of the Swedish Volvo Group until 1999, when the company was bought by Ford Motor Company of the US. In 2010, Volvo Cars was acquired by Geely Holding.
As of December 2016, Volvo Cars had over 31,000 employees worldwide. Volvo Cars head office, product development, marketing and administration functions are mainly located in Gothenburg, Sweden. Volvo Cars head office for China is located in Shanghai. The company’s main car production plants are located in Gothenburg (Sweden), Ghent (Belgium), Chengdu and Daqing (China), while engines are manufactured in Skövde (Sweden) and Zhangjiakou (China) and body components in Olofström (Sweden).