Premium Volvo Now Available on the Internet
5 November 1997
Premium Volvo Now Available on the InternetYou, too, can buy a $120,000 Volvo truck on the World Wide Web GREENSBORO, N.C., Nov. 5 -- CD player, air conditioner, rust proofing. If you think buying an automobile can be complex, with all of the options and colors, imagine purchasing an 18-wheeler with hundreds of options from transmissions to interiors. Now imagine doing that when you're on the road more often than you're home and running a business from what ever town you happen to be in. Well, one company, Volvo Trucks North America, understands these challenges and as of Nov. 1, has begun offering truckers the opportunity to purchase a Volvo truck via the Internet. Volvo Trucks is the first American truck manufacturer to offer truckers in the United States and Canada this service. Trucking professionals who visit Volvo Trucks' web site (http://www.volvotrucks.volvo.com) will be able to customize, order and finance a Volvo 770 from the convenience of their office or home computer or from the road with a laptop. With an average purchase price of $120,000, the Volvo 770, Volvo Trucks' premier model, could be one of the most expensive items available for purchase on the Internet. "This is a revolutionary shift in how a custom-built truck is sold," said Marc Gustafson, president and CEO of Volvo Trucks North America, Inc. "The ability to order a Volvo 770 on the World Wide Web demonstrates our commitment to providing trucking professionals with new, effective ways to do business with us -- wherever they may be, at any time of the day. "Some people outside our industry may not know how business savvy today's truckers are," added Gustafson. "They are smart business people who use high- tech tools to run their businesses. These are the kind of professionals who drive Volvo trucks." According to Mike Delaney, Volvo Trucks' vice president of marketing, the decision to sell trucks via the Internet was driven by the significant percentage of truckers who are already on-line. Research published by Truckers News shows that more than 55 percent of today's truck drivers own PCs and more than 30 percent of them log onto the Internet daily. "Our mission at Volvo Trucks is very clear," Delaney added. "Provide customers with innovative products and services to help them grow their businesses. The Internet will greatly simplify the entire buying process." Better customer service How will the ability to buy a truck on the Internet enhance the efforts of Volvo Trucks' 200 truck dealers? "It will complement dealers' marketing efforts," said Bill McKenna, president of McKenna Truck Center in Des Moines, Iowa. McKenna, who also chairs the Volvo Trucks' Dealer Council, said Volvo Trucks' new Internet site will add an extra dimension to attracting prospective customers to Volvo dealerships. "Customers may use the web site to directly order a Volvo 770. And then, there will be others who will use it to gather information, test out a variety of truck options, and apply for financing," McKenna said. "Either way, they're going to visit their nearest Volvo dealership. "While the Internet makes it convenient for truckers to customize and purchase a vehicle on their own time, it still can't offer a test drive or replace the human interaction between a Volvo sales associate and the owner. Together, they are a powerful combination -- the kind of customer service that truck drivers and owners demand today." How it works Ordering a Volvo 770 is simple. Just log onto http://www.volvotrucks.volvo.com and click on the road sign to select the features for your Volvo 770. Features include everything from the interior trim level to cab color and custom specifications such as chassis wheelbase and fifth-wheel height. After selecting the Volvo 770's features, the user can also see a total price for the vehicle as customized. To place an order on-line, the user selects a participating Volvo truck dealer to pick up their new Volvo 770. Once a total price has been calculated and a dealer location selected, the user may apply for credit by completing a short, on-line application. The credit application is electronically submitted to Volvo Truck Finance North America, which will evaluate the application within 72 hours. Personal financial information is encrypted using a security process that renders the information unreadable to unauthorized parties. To learn if he or she is approved to purchase a Volvo 770, the user simply enters a secret password, which authorizes the system to flash finance approval. Once financing is approved, the user may secure the order by using a credit card to make a $500 down payment. Or, the list of equipment and options can be printed and taken to a participating Volvo truck dealer to place the order in-person. About the Volvo 770 Introduced in 1997, the Volvo 770 is the trucking industry's premier highway vehicle. It's also one of its largest, with a living area that's approximately eight-feet high, by six-feet wide, by six-feet long. The truck features many of the amenities of home, including sleeping accommodations for two, a PC work station, an entertainment center, and even a kitchen sink. The truck is typically equipped with a premium, nine-speaker audio system including CD changer, a refrigerator/freezer and plush upper and lower bunks. Drivers also will be comfortable and secure with heated leather seats, power windows, door locks, and mirrors. About Volvo Trucks North America Volvo Trucks North America, Inc. manufactures Class 8 Volvo trucks and tractors. The company leads the heavy-truck industry in the areas of safety research and development, quality manufacturing processes and environmental care. The company also markets Volvo heavy-duty diesel engines, transmissions and rear suspensions. Headquartered in Greensboro, N.C., the company is a subsidiary of AB Volvo. SOURCE Volvo Trucks North America, Inc.