Volvo unveils new models, urges Govt to incentivise hybrid cars

Volvo Auto India Managing Director Tom Von Bonsdorff has said that the government should incentivise electric and hybrid cars in India in order to protect the environment.
Tom Von Bonsdorff, MD, Volvo India
Tom Von Bonsdorff, MD, Volvo India

KOCHI: Volvo Auto India Managing Director Tom Von Bonsdorff has said that the government should incentivise electric and hybrid cars in India in order to protect the environment.

Bonsdorff said that Volvo has plans to launch more hybrid cars depending upon customer feedback, while inaugurating the new showroom in Kochi and launching Volvo V40 and V40 cross country on Thursday.

“Our hybrid cars can travel 40 km before recharging. These cars are very much beneficial for cities like Delhi, which is highly polluted. In order to promote electric/hybrid cars, the central government should give incentives for customers,” he said. He pointed out that Europe has the highest share of electric vehicles in the world.

Speaking on impact of demonetisation, Bonsdorff said that the company was badly hit in this quarter due to the note-ban. The October-December quarter used to register good sales figures, he said.

“Volvo has sold 1400 cars in 2015. Our target this year was 25 per cent more sales. But due to demonetisation we could only achieve 10 per cent more sales in 2016 than last year,” he said adding that Volvo could sell only 1600 cars in India this year.

The Swedish car company Volvo Auto India established its presence in India in 2007. Volvo Cars currently markets products through its dealerships in 17 regions including, Coimbatore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore Soon outlets will be opened in Lucknow, Pune and Jaipur.

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