---

Volvo Sales Surpass 1999 Total on Route to New Benchmark

19 December 2000

Volvo Sales Surpass 1999 Total on Route to New Benchmark

    ROCKLEIGH, N.J., Dec. 19 With the clock still running on
calendar year 2000, Volvo car sales exceeded the total for all of 1999 and are
poised to lift the company to a new sales milestone, Volvo Cars of North
America, Inc. announced today.
    The 1999 sales total of 125,216 units was surpassed by the middle of
December, VCNA president and CEO Mark LaNeve told employees, and the closing
days of the month could see the company establish new benchmarks for products
like the popular compact four-door S40 and five-door V40, as well as overall
sales for the past decade.
    Sales through the end of November 2000 totaled 114,397 units, up 9.4
percent from the 104,530 sold in the same period of 1999.
    "Despite some late year softness in the market, we see broad support for
all the Volvo products, and real strength in the three new cars we introduced
this year," LaNeve said. The versatile and stylish V70 wagon, rugged Cross
Country and sporty S60 all appeared as 2001 models during the year, LaNeve
pointed out, and all have gained market acceptance. "Sales of the 2001 Cross
Country continue to be strong with wait-lists continuing in some of our key
markets," LaNeve added.
    The all-time sales record for Volvo cars is 116,691 units, set in 1999.
Since 1991, when the company posted sales of 71,444, the company has continued
to post year over year increases during which time 831,964 new Volvo's have
been sold.

    Volvo Cars of North America is part of the Volvo Car Corporation of
Goteborg, Sweden. The company provides marketing, sales, parts, service,
technology and training support to the 374 Volvo automobile retailers across
North America. The 2001 Volvo automobile includes the flagship S80 luxury
sedan, sporty new S60 sedan and compact S40, versatile V70 wagon and rugged
Cross Country, compact V40, and the C70 coupe and convertible.