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Volvo S80 Top Seller in the Top End Luxury Sedan Segment

5 March 1999

Volvo S80 Top Seller in the Top End Luxury Sedan Segment

    ROCKLEIGH, N.J., March 4 -- Just five months out the gate,
Volvo Cars' new S80 sedan is performing ahead of expectations in the highly
competitive luxury sedan segment.  In February, Volvo retailers sold
2,873 units in the United States, taking 14.8% of the top end luxury sedan
segment that includes established luxury models such as the BMW 528i, the
Cadillac Seville, the Lexus GS 300, Lincoln Continental, and the Mercedes
E-Class.  The S80 outsold all contenders except the E-Class.
    Volvo Cars of North America's President and CEO, Hans-Olov Olsson
observed, "In just a few months, sales of the S80 have more than doubled,
penetrating the fiercely competitive luxury sedan market almost overnight.  It
demonstrates that an entire new segment of customers is receptive to our brand
promise."
    It was the best February for Volvo in the U.S. in twelve years, with total
sales at 8,530 units up 14.9% over February 1998.
    The S80 went on sale in October 1998.  Called the safest Volvo ever
designed, the S80 was conceived as a luxury sedan from the very beginning,
unlike Volvo's existing models which are part of the "near luxury" automobile
segment.
    The S80 has also been well received outside the U.S., receiving the
Automobile Journalists Association of Canada's Best New Prestige Car award,
the European Automotive Design Award, Australia's National Roads and
Motorists' Association Luxury Car of the Year award and Italy's "The Most
Beautiful Car in the World" award in 1998.
    Details and sales statistics for Volvo Cars of North America are available
at the company's website: http://www.volvocars.com.