Volvo Car Malaysia (VCM) is growing its dealer network as quickly as possible and with the appointment of Pekin Auto Sdn Bhd to cover the Johor Bahru area, the number of dealerships now stands at 13 nationwide.
Pekin Auto, located near Skudai, offers the full range of sales and aftersales services as it is a 3S Centre (Sales, Service, and Spare Parts). It will adhere to Volvo Cars’ latest Volvo Retail Experience (VRE) requirement, a standard that delivers a holistic brand experience for customers.
“VRE goes beyond its Scandinavian-inspired aesthetics; it is the manifestation of our brand values and our desire to take care of our customers throughout their whole journey with Volvo Cars,” said Nalin Jain, Managing Director of VCM. The first dealership to incorporate the VRE was the Federal Auto showroom at Menara MBMR in August 2016.
The Volvo Retail Experience focusses on the space and design of the dealership and is designed to reflect Scandinavian-inspired values of calm, clean lines with ‘cool on the outside and warm on the inside’-style architecture.
Transformation plan
Volvo Car Malaysia is now aggressively implementing the next phase of its transformation plan with a premier focus set on ‘customer experience’ and dealer network. Internal polls are already showing positive results, thanks to improvements made in these two key areas.
“I am happy that our brand has been well-received in the market. We are committed in allowing our customers greater choice by appointing qualified and professional companies like Pekin Auto to represent the brand in key areas,” said Mr. Jain, adding that the company’s growth in representation, in turn, has helped record increased sales for the brand of more than 60% in the first half of 2019.
A recent study conducted in the UK has concluded that Volvo is the most dependable premium brand in the current market. The J.D. Power 2019 UK Vehicle Dependability Study recorded opinions taken from more than 11,000 motorists in the region.
Being at the forefront of safety and reliability, it is not a surprise that Volvo owners gave their brand of choice the highest ratings compared to other premium vehicle manufacturer. (more…)
Raya is around the corner and you know what that means? Heading home to be with your loved ones, which also means getting on the roads with thousands of other Malaysians with the same goal. Volvo Car Malaysia has launched the #SafeDrive road safety campaign with one main message to promote: WEAR YOUR SAFETY BELTS. (more…)
VCM or Volvo Car Malaysia, custodians of the Volvo brand in Malaysia, have announced the appointment of Mr Nalin Jain as the new Managing Director of Volvo Car Malaysia. Mr Jain will continue the responsibilities of the current Managing Director, Mr Lennart Stegland, starting March 1, 2018.
Prior to this undertaking, Mr Jain was the Chief Financial Officer of Volvo Auto India and has over 20 years of experience in the automotive, consulting, and technology fields. Mr Jain holds a Master’s Degree in Engineering from State University of New York and an MBA from the Sloan School of Management in MIT. After 40 years of service with Volvo Cars, leading positions in Research and Development, Marketing and Sales, and Managing various National Sales Companies, Mr Stegland (below) will be retiring from the organisation.
On a personal note, Piston.my would like to thank Mr Stegland for his amazing contribution and dedication to the Volvo brand here in Malaysia, his wealth of knowledge, experience and amiable character will be missed here at Piston.my. Nalin has very big shoes to fill indeed. All the best to you Lennart! – Chris Wee.
VOLVO CAR MALAYSIA IN 2018…
Volvo Car Malaysia records strong growth in 2018
Volvo Car Malaysia, the premium car brand, has recorded strong growth in volume, finishing 2018 with a total of 1,384 units delivered, a 35 per cent increase from 2017 (1,021 units) and a 48 per cent increase from 2016 (934 units) – a testament to the transformation plan that was put into motion since the introduction of the XC90 T8 Twin Engine in late 2015.
On exports, the company recorded a total of 1,889 units of V40, XC40, S60, V60, XC60, and XC90 to Thailand, Taiwan, Philippines and Vietnam, thanks to investments made to the plant to accommodate more assembly volume and new platforms such as the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) that underpins its new 60s and 90s Range, and the Modular Compact Architecture (MCA) used by the new XC40.
The transformation plan led by the Managing Director of Volvo Car Malaysia, Mr Lennart Stegland, is a multi-pronged strategy that involves an overhaul of retail operations, customer touch points, and product offerings in Malaysia. “From a consumer standpoint, the first visible change to our existing retail operations is the implementation of Volvo Retail Experience (VRE), a dealer standard that perfectly complements our new and exciting product line,” said Stegland.
VRE is a comprehensive standard that covers critical aspects of a dealership and aims to bring a more customer-focused experience based on Volvo’s Scandinavian-inspire values: from the look and feel of the showroom to the quality of service rendered to customers.
“Enforcing the VRE standards for our existing dealerships in 2017, sets the correct level of expectations for our prospective dealer-partners in the next phase of the transformation which involves the expansion of our dealership network,” explained Stegland.
The transformation also took customer service experience into consideration and yielded positive results after extensive training and programmes were rolled-out to Service Advisors across the nation. Volvo’s Customer Experience Management (CEM) scores, gathered from a survey of service customers, had doubled from 2017.
Volvo Service Agreement (VSA) was also unveiled in 2018 – this service agreement which includes a comprehensive service package that covers replacement of most wear-and-tear parts (excluding tyres), gives owners the freedom of choosing between a 3 (VSA 3) or 5 (VSA 5) year plans.
“It is common practice within the industry to include the cost of services packages into the sticker price of the car. We are challenging this by being transparent about these costs and letting the customers select a plan that is more suited to their individual preferences,” added Stegland.
Moving forward, Volvo Car Malaysia plans to take its customer experience to the next level by rolling-out a new service concept they call Volvo Personalised Service or VPS in 2019. A new management system to ensure optimum availability of parts called Volvo Managed Inventory (VMI) will also be introduced sometime this year.
In terms of dealership network, Volvo Car Malaysia has grown its nationwide presence to a total of 11 dealerships which includes the recent re-introduction of the brand in Kuching after close to 10 years. The company is aiming to add more dealerships in 2019, especially in locations that is currently not represented by the brand.
2018 also saw the launch of several models from Volvo Car Malaysia, including the XC90 T5, S90 T5, XC60 T8 Twin Engine, XC60 T5, and the new XC40 T5 R-Design. The market response has been positive for most of these models with the XC60 recording the most gains from the total units delivered and the XC40 taking in a strong order book.
On the Financial Services front, Volvo Car Malaysia had also introduced Volvo Car Leasing – a first for Volvo Cars in Southeast Asia – that lets customers enjoy stress-free Volvo ownership, minus the usual financial strain of a hire-purchase agreement. The company is also planning to introduce Volvo Insurance in partnership with AXA Insurance later this year.
Volvo Car Malaysia is projecting a double-digit growth in 2019 with the new XC40 and the opening of more retail locations as the two main drivers.
Volvo Car Malaysia, together with its appointed dealer, Fotroende Automobile, marked a decade-long re-entry into Sarawak with the grand opening of Volvo Kuching – a full-fledged 3S centre (Sales, Service, and Spare Parts) prominently located along Jalan Tun Jugah in Kuching. The launch ceremony was officiated by the Managing Director of Volvo Car Malaysia, Mr Lennart Stegland who impressed on the importance of Sarawak for the future growth of the brand said “Sarawak’s potential in the premium car market cannot be understated. It is vital that we regain a foothold in Kuching before expanding into other cities within the state. We have worked hard to ensure that the brand is represented by competent and passionate dealer partners that will serve our customers well.”
Like all Volvo dealerships, Volvo Kuching will adhere to the latest showroom and service standards which Volvo terms “Volvo Retail Experience” or VRE – a customer-centric, Scandinavian-inspired experience that is cool on the outside and warm on the inside. “VRE is based on Volvo’s brand philosophy which revolves around people and what’s important to them. I am confident that Fotroende Automobile will deliver the expected level of service to our loyal customers in Kuching,” Stegland adds.
The company’s name (Fotroende Automobile) is derived from the Swedish word “Förtroende”which means “confidence”; something that company’s Principal hopes to build, together with the brand in Kuching. “Demand for the brand is strong, especially with the arrival of exciting new models from Volvo. We are proud that have been chosen by Volvo Car Malaysia to represent the brand here in Kuching,” said David Lai, the Managing Director of Fotroende Automobile.
The Volvo showroom in Kuching opens from 8:30 am till 5:30 pm, Monday to Friday, and closes at 4:00 pm on Saturday. The showroom will also be open on Sundays and Public Holidays from 10:00 am till 3:00 pm. For further information about the showroom, please contact 07 4312222 or you can e-mail the Sales Manager, Brandon Linang Anak Albert Juan, at brandon.juan@fotroende.com.my.
Stunning. Photos really don’t do this SUV any justice whatsoever folks. First-off, in terms of physical size, the XC40 was built using Volvo’s Compact Modular Architecture (CMA), and this in itself should allude to the fact that the XC40 is not a large SUV. In fact, it’s about the size of a Honda HR-V or BMW X1. Here’s the walk-around video…
Despite its compact exterior dimensions though, the XC40’s CMA build-philosophy seems to have pulled-off that all-so-important “small on the outside, big on the inside” trick quite well. Just from casual observation, it’s clear there’s a lot of room within the cabin, which by the way, is beautifully crafted and put-together.
There’s only one variant on offer, the XC40 T5 R-Design, which is powered by a turbocharged, petrol-driven 2.0-litre Drive-E powertrain that churns out 252bhp and 350Nm of torque, allowing the XC40 to sprint from a standstill to 100kmh in just 6.4 seconds. More sedate driving will see it return a combined fuel-consumption figure of 7.7L/100km. For the full specifications, click this link. (The full press release is below the photo gallery)
Priced at RM255,888 (OTR w/o insurance), the all-new XC40 will be at all VCM’s dealerships starting 6th October 2018. Stay tuned for the full review coming soon!
Introducing the new Volvo XC40 GENTING HIGHLANDS – Volvo Car Malaysia, the premium car maker, will bring a new standard of safety and user experience to the premium small SUV segment with the launch of the 2018 European Car of the Year, the new Volvo XC40. The new XC40 is developed around the challenges of modern city life, aimed at making the daily urban commute less stressful and more enjoyable, as drivers and passengers within this segment can now enjoy Volvo’s award-winning safety, semi-autonomous driving, and infotainment technologies that are well-known with Volvo’s 90s and 60s range.
“The new XC40 builds on our heritage as a human-centric brand that focuses on the well-being of the driver and passengers through the combination of innovative technologies that offers the best in safety standards, driver-assistance technologies, and intuitive design,” said Lennart Stegland, Managing Director of Volvo Car Malaysia.
Built on Volvo’s new Compact Modular Architecture (CMA), the new XC40 will enjoy a range of ground-breaking technologies that were first introduced in its larger siblings, based on the larger Scalable Product Architecture (SPA).
These technologies include Pilot Assist (semi-autonomous driving), the latest generation of City Safety (autonomous collision mitigation and avoidance, including pedestrian, cyclist and large animal detection), Run-off Road Protection and Mitigation, Cross Traffic Alert with Auto Brake, and many more.
“On top of these innovations that we’re introducing into this segment, the new XC40 will also seek to end clutter inside the cabin by carefully designing practical and functional storage areas that was done based on extensive consumer insight,” adds Stegland. During the development phase of the XC40, Volvo Cars’ customer research team spent a considerable time investigating how city dwellers across the globe use their cars, and more importantly, how their belongings are stored within the cabin.
For instance, to provide better storage space in the doors of the new XC40, Volvo designers chose a radical new approach. By moving speakers from the door and developing a world-first, air-ventilated dashboard-mounted sub-woofer, Volvo created enough storage in the door compartment for a laptop and a tablet, or a couple of water bottles. “The core tenet of Scandinavian design is the perfect balance of aesthetics and function. For example, the tunnel is not only designed to be visually pleasing but the cup holders themselves provide areas for coins, card, charging cables and a usable space for your phone which offers wireless charging as well as USB ports,” said Stegland.
The XC40 also offers slots for credit and service cards that can be neatly inserted into the dashboard, making them readily available when needed. In the tunnel console, under the armrest, there is a large storage area with room for a tissue box. A special, removable bin allows you to discard and quickly get rid of waste. A small fold-away hook has been added to the glove compartment, allowing you to secure small shopping or take-away bags. The driver’s side offers a storage space under the seat, large enough for a mini tablet or other smaller items.
Malaysians will get to enjoy the R-Design as a standard trim level for the XC40 T5 which reflects a more dynamic and premium feel, matching the demands of the local market. “We have acted on the feedback from our customers and the media to explore more vivid exterior colours, on top of having the R-Design trim level as a standard – with this new selection of exterior colours, we hope to offer our customers a greater range of self-expression,” said Stegland.
Customers will have the option to choose between four distinct colours: Bursting Blue, Fusion Red, Cyrstal White and Osmium Grey. In terms of performance, the XC40 T5 R-Design will be equipped with Volvo’s highly-innovative, 2-litre Drive-E powertrain which will output a total of 252 hp (metric) and 350 Nm of torque, returning 7.7 litres for every 100 km travelled (NEDC, combined cycle) and recording an acceleration to 100 km/h of only 6.4 s.
The XC40 T5 R-Design will be priced at RM255,888 (on-the-road, without insurance, inclusive of excise duty and sales tax). The new XC40 will be available for viewing at all authorised Volvo dealers nationwide starting tomorrow.
Volvo Car Malaysia has recently added the XC90 T5 to its line-up, powered by Volvo’s award-winning Drive-E powertrain, that will complement its current 7-seater premium plug-in hybrid, the XC90 T8 Twin Engine Inscription and Inscription Plus. The XC90 T5 is equipped with a 2-litre turbocharged engine that outputs 254 hp (metric) and 350Nm of torque, paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission. The XC90 T5 records a 7.9sec acceleration (0- 100 km/h) and 7.9 litres of fuel consumed for every 100 km (NEDC, combined cycle).
The decision to add a new variant to the XC90 line-up comes after collecting valuable feedback from customers who want more trim level and powertrain choices for Volvo’s best-selling large SUV. “As a human-centric car company, we are always developing products that suit the current needs of our customers,” said Lennart Stegland, Managing Director of Volvo Car Malaysia. Stegland adds that adding the XC90 T5 is only one part of the improvements rolled-out for the XC90 range; prospective customers will now get to choose an additional interior colour and three new exterior colours:
New Interior Upholstery Option:
Maroon Brown
New Exterior Colour Options:
Crystal White
Denim Blue
Maple Brown
The XC90 T5 will be priced at RM373,888 (on-the-road, without insurance, inclusive of excise duty and sales tax) but despite the reduction, the XC90 T5 will maintain all the IntelliSafe systems available in the XC90 T8 Twin Engine.
These IntelliSafe systems include, among others, City Safety with Autobrake technology, that assists the driver in avoiding potential collisions. City Safety is the only system in the market to recognise pedestrians, cyclists, and large animals.
Another feature that was noted as a favourite amongst owners, Pilot Assist, Volvo’s semi-autonomous driving system which supports the driver with steering, acceleration, and braking will also be included in the XC90 T5. The XC90 T5 is now available for order or viewing at all Volvo authorized dealers nationwide.
Volvo Car Malaysia recently launched Volvo Batu Pahat together with its newest dealer, AJ Premium Motors Sdn Bhd. The full-fledged 3S centre (Sales, Service and Spare Parts) will give customers in the Southern Region more options and greater access to the Volvo brand.
Since Volvo Car Malaysia had started its sales and aftersales transformation programme, Volvo’s network has grown from four to now nine dealerships, including this new Volvo Batu Pahat, with more dealerships slated within this year.
“There is growing interest for our models in Malaysia and we are actively setting-up dealerships in strategic areas around Malaysia to better service this need,” said Lennart Stegland, Managing Director of Volvo Car Malaysia.
Stegland adds that the sales and aftersales transformation programme is not just about expanding Volvo’s dealership network but also to improve the competency level of its current dealerships to better service its growing customer base.
“It is an absolute requirement for all new dealerships to adhere to the Volvo Retail Experience (VRE) standards, consistent with our dealership standards in Europe – it is not just an aesthetical guideline but also dictates the level of service rendered in our dealerships,” said Stegland.
Volvo Batu Pahat is no exception – with a showroom built in adherence to VRE and fully-equipped service centre, it will surely bring great value to Volvo owners and fans in that region. “Our presence in Batu Pahat makes it more convenient for owners from the surrounding areas of Muar, Kluang and Segamat to service their cars or for prospective customers to view new Volvo models,” said Jacky Ong, Managing Director of AJ Premium Motors Sdn Bhd.
True to VRE, the 3S centre will feature a Scandinavian-inspired ‘living room’ where customers can relax in the cosy ambience filled with warm lighting and clean air while being attended by a sales representative or while waiting for the vehicles to be serviced.
The Volvo Showroom in Batu Pahat opens from 9:00 am till 6:00 pm on Monday to Saturday and from 11:00 am till 5:00 pm on Sundays and Public Holidays. For further information about the showroom, contact 07 4312222 or you can e-mail the Branch Manager, Patrick Teo, at patrick@ajpremium.com.
Does anyone remember the Volvo S60 of the new millennium? If you’re a car freak like me, you should. Debuting in 2000, there was one variant brought in by (then) Federal Auto Cars called the S60 T5 and it looked like this:
Well, unbeknownst to many, this was one of the cars that actually began the widespread use of the term ‘sleeper’ among car enthusiasts because below that unassuming bonnet up front lay a 2.3-litre, turbocharged 5-cylinder engine that produced 247bhp and 330Nm of torque. No, really.
Top speed was a governed 250kmh,and 0-100kmh was achieved in 6.8sec. Those figures are impressive even today, so let’s not forget that this was almost 20-years ago!
Carrying on this fine ‘sleeper’ tradition, the new Volvo S60 has made its debut recently in the USA, and it’s a stunner! Here’s what The Car Connection had to say about the new 2019 S60’s powertrains…
“A trio of engines lie under the 2019 S60’s hood, each with its own name: T5, T6, and T8. In the T5, a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 cranks out 250 horsepower, which is sent via an 8-speed automatic transmission to the front wheels. The T6 adds a supercharger for a total of 316 hp delivered to all four corners. Topping the line is the T8plug-in hybrid that adds an electric motor for a combined output of 400 horsepower.”
Here’s the product walk-around video…
And from Auto Express UK, here’s the latest regarding the 2019 Volvo S60…
Volvo’s journey to fully-fledged premium car maker is now complete. With its XC SUV models matching or beating anything BMW, Audi or Mercedes can offer, and its S and V 90 models providing stiff competition for the likes of the BMW 5 Series, Audi A6 and Merc E-Class, now it’s the turn of an all-new compact executive – the S60.
This model, though, has the toughest task of them all. When it arrives in UK showrooms next year, it’ll line up against an all-new 3 Series, not to mention Mercedes’ revised C-Class, Audi’s A4 and Jaguar’s XE.
Volvo’s President and CEO Håkan Samuelsson calls the S60 “one of the most exciting Volvo cars we’ve ever made” and “a true driver’s car.” Big claims. It’ll be made at an all-new plant in the US in Charleston, South Carolina with a clear leaning to the big and lucrative US and Chinese markets.
