Volvo Cars sold 131,889 cars in the first quarter of 2020, down 18.2 percent compared to the same period last year, with the manufacturer impacted by the coronavirus pandemic across its markets.
Volvo Cars global sales in March were 46,395 units, down 31.2 percent compared to the same month last year, led by weakening demand in Europe and the U.S.
However, China was starting to show some signs of recovery, as showroom traffic continued to improve. China sales during the first quarter were 20,780 cars.
U.S. sales in the first quarter were 19,485 cars, down 11.7 percent compared to the first quarter of last year. Sales in Europe were also down 18.5 percent compared to last year’s first quarter, with 70,510 cars sold.
During the first quarter, the XC60 was the top selling model for the company, followed by the XC40 and the XC90. SUVs accounted for 67.9 percent of the company’s total sales during the first quarter, up from 60.3 percent in the first quarter of 2019.
Volvo Cars produces the S60 mid-size sedan at its Ridgeville, South Carolina manufacturing plant. It is expected to start producing the XC90 SUV around 2022.
With both car lines functioning, the 2.3 million-square-foot facility will produce approximately 150,000 vehicles annually. Currently Volvo employs 1,500 people at the South Carolina plant.
