Volvo launches new car subscription service in UK
Care by Volvo
Care by Volvo scheme now available nationwide, with servicing, road tax and maintenance included in the monthly cost
Volvo has launched its Care by Volvo subscription service across the UK, claiming that the scheme offers a “genuine, flexible alternative” to buying a car.
The scheme has previously been trialled on a regional basis in the UK, but will now be offered nationwide across Volvo’s full range of cars.
The monthly subscription payment covers the car, scheduled servicing, ‘wear-and-tear’ maintenance, replacement tyres, roadside assistance, road fund payments, tax and 10GB of in-car Wi-Fi per month.
Monthly payments start from £599, for an entry-level XC40 T3 Momentum, with no deposit needed. Insurance can be added as an option, with Volvo offering new customers a 30-day trial.
Customers can sign up to the Care by Volvo scheme online or at one of the Swedish firm’s dealerships, and cars can also be delivered.
Conor Horne, Care by Volvo’s UK boss, said the package was designed to be “transparent, convenient and flexible.”
He added: “It is a great way for people to access the car they want, avoiding the complexities and the long-term commitments associated with traditional car ownership.”
Earlier this year, Volvo UK boss Kristian Elvefors told Autocar that the coronavirus pandemic had accelerated a shift to digital car sales platforms, and would likely have a lasting impact.
“What we’ve done in terms of actions to tackle the coronavirus has essentially been two years’ worth of digital development in just eight weeks,” he said. “Despite the lockdown, we decided not to furlough many of our staff to make sure that we could keep a lot of people working on new developments that would help us keep customers interested and really help when it was time to restart.
“These are trends that we’ll see going forward. We’ll definitely see more of our operations move online in the future. We’ve learned so much working digitally which is going to be game-changing.”
In July, Volvo reported a 14.2% year-on-year sales increase globally, recording growth in the European, US and Chinese markets. Its XC40, XC60 and XC90 SUVs were by far the best-selling models, claiming a combined 72.8% of the brand's sales for the month.
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