Volvo And Aol connect again
DULLES, Va. And IRVINE, Ca.--March 18, 2002--America Online, Inc., the world's leading interactive services company and Volvo Cars of North America, LLC, announced today an expanded interactive marketing relationship that will promote Volvo's new XC90 sport utility vehicle across the America Online family of interactive brands and feature several "AOL Anywhere" devices in promotional campaigns.
Volvo's first SUV - the XC90 - will be featured in the Autos areas of the America Online service, Netscape, and CompuServe where consumers can go to get detailed information on the XC90 as well as Volvo's full line of automobiles. Volvo and AOL plan to create a special "My Volvo" page where current and prospective Volvo owners can get information from the Volvo Owners' Circle, access MyAOL and link to special AOL / Volvo promotions. Slated for retail availability in November 2002, the Volvo XC90 represents the next level of safety and functionality in the SUV category.
This new initiative builds on the success of the companies' earlier award-winning advertising relationship, during which they collaborated on the first-ever online-only launch of a new car, the Volvo S60. This initiative was named "Best Online Campaign" by Adweek magazine and yielded over 2 million visits to Volvo's website as well as 45,000 requests for quotes from Volvo dealerships.
Volvo will continue its pioneering use of interactive marketing by collaborating with America Online on a number of unique promotions featuring America Online's "AOL Anywhere"(sm) products and services. The AOL Mobile Communicator(sm) will be promoted in the MyVolvo area where AOL members can discover the convenience of using AOL on the go for quick access to email and instant messaging and register to win a free Volvo; AOLbyPhone(sm) will also be promoted with Volvo products for a special sweepstakes offer.
Robert Friedman, President of Worldwide Interactive Marketing for America Online, Inc., said, "We're delighted that Volvo has once again chosen America Online to highlight a new vehicle. The success of our last campaign together demonstrates that the AOL family of interactive brands are vital components of successful marketing programs and we're looking forward to taking our collaboration to the next level by promoting Volvo alongside our innovative AOL Anywhere products and services."
Phil Bienert, manager of CRM, e-Business and future product strategy for Volvo said, "America Online has been a great marketing partner for us in promoting new products. They understand how to market a product while delivering a consumer benefit through compelling promotions. We're excited to expand the successful relationship between two great companies for the introduction of the XC90."
About America Online, Inc.
America Online, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of AOL Time Warner, Inc. Based in Dulles, Virginia, America Online is the world's leader in interactive services, Web brands, Internet technologies and e-commerce services.
About Volvo
Volvo Cars of North America, LLC (VCNA), is an affiliate of Ford Motor Co.'s Premier Automotive Group based in Irvine, CA, and is a subsidiary of the Volvo Car Corporation of Goteborg, Sweden, which will be celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2002. VCNA provides marketing, sales, parts, service, technology and training support to Volvo automobile retailers in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico.