By 2020, no one will get injured or killed in a Volvo – Tomas
Volvo Auto India has aggressive plans for 2015, as the Scandinavian brand is increasing its reach and at the same time adding on to its product portfolio. We get talking with Tomas Ernberg, Managing Director, Volvo Auto India to understand his plans for the Indian luxury market.
Q1) Volvo has introduced new products for India, how many more new dealerships could we see in this year?
Tomas: Volvo Auto India plans on strengthening its dealership network from 16 to 22 outlets by 2015 end. Last month we had a new dealership in Andheri West (Mumbai). Recently, we entered Surat as well.
We currently market products through our dealerships in South Delhi, West Delhi, Gurgaon, Ahmedabad, Surat, Mumbai, Chandigarh, Coimbatore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore, Kochi, Vishakhapatnam and Pune. This year we will open another flagship 3S facility in Chennai, a 2nd showroom in South Mumbai, Madurai, Vijayawada, Rajkot and either Trivandrum or Calicut in Kerala.
Q2) With luxury car makers in India going local slowly, when could we see something similar from Volvo? Especially with the government now encouraging Make in India.
Tomas: In a price sensitive market like India and with an aim of annual sales of 20000+ units it is imperative for any car manufacturer to have a production unit in India. And it entails a certain amount of investment. However for any investment to turn viable we must have achieved a certain base beyond which it becomes eminent for us to begin localised production.
We have strong manufacturing facility in Europe. We are currently setting up industrial operations in China and USA. We need to focus on that. In India, we are expanding our base. We are open to new opportunities, but as of now there is no decision to set up plant in India.
Q3) After entering the compact luxury segment with the V40 Cross Country, what has Volvo’s experience been about this segment? Does it have the potential? Or is there still sometime for it grow?
Tomas: The V40 Cross Country targets the young generation of the Luxury Car buyers in India. The segment is growing primarily because it offers high-end technology, drivability, safety and features parallel to none in this price bracket. The car promises to bring alive the ‘Adventurer in you’ by appealing ‘To your other side. We see smaller luxury cars as a 2nd or 3rd car in the family. This segment has the potential to grow in the next 3-5 years
Q4) Is there any one particular luxury segment, where Volvo needs to make its immediate presence in India?
Tomas: Volvo introduced the cross-country segment in India and is now gaining popularity in the Indian car market. Likewise, we have the right products in the pipeline to capture the luxury car buyers, starting with the New XC90 scheduled to be unveiled on 12th May 2015 with pre-ordering/bookings open. The New XC90 is epitome of Scandinavian luxury and comes with a host of features that will appeal to the luxury SUV buyer.
Q5) The SPA platform will house a hybrid XC90 too, so this could be trickled into other SPA-based vehicles too?
Tomas: XC90 would be our first car built on a Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) making it truly a Volvo car in all sense. Gradually, all new C/D/E segment Volvo cars would be built on SPA with Drive-E engine.
Q6) What kind of technology sharing is happening or will happen between Volvo and Geely?
Tomas: Volvo and Geely jointly are set to start producing a small crossover utility vehicle late next year. The new car will be based on a common platform called Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) and engine technology that Volvo Cars and Zhejiang Geely Holding Group have developed together.
Q7) Any specific highlights of Volvo’s new-generation engines and hybrid technology that you will like to bring to our notice?
Tomas: Volvo Car’s new engine family VEA (Volvo Engine Architecture) comes with another world-first i-ART technology that helps to cut fuel consumption in the new diesel engines. i-ART technology makes it possible to continuously monitor and adapt fuel injection per combustion in each of the four cylinders. The self-adapting i-ART system makes sure that the ideal amount of fuel is injected during each combustion cycle.
The new design language of Volvo is its all new Drive-E engines, smaller in size with higher mileage and higher horsepower and torque; a 2L 4-cyl engine combined with electrification can deliver from 150HP up to 400HP. We will now only produce four cylinder cars that will be environmental friendly and deliver what the customers want.
Volvo’s new XC90, which launches later this year, will feature a range of petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid drivetrains with CO2 emissions starting at 49g/km. The top of the range ‘Twin Engine’ will carry the badge ‘T8’ and be a plug-in electric car and high-performance car rolled into one.
In India, government policies are gradually taking a note of this along with safety measures. The government is keen to bring in the necessary changes in the policies. I think sooner or later cars will be taxed based on emissions that they let out. This will put us in an advantageous position.
We are on our way to produce cars that will guarantee you that you will not lose your life. By 2020, if you sit in a new Volvo car, and you have the Volvo seat belt on, we promise you that you will not die or get injured. No other luxury car brand can promise that. Only Volvo can say this. Even today, our cars are the safest in the world.
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