Volvo Cars introduces first connected-car technology to make life less complicated
Los Angeles CA — A new connected-car technology app from Volvo Cars could end the need for time-consuming trips to the gas station, car wash, service and more. Whether you are looking for the best car wax or the best car wash products we have a range of quality products that we guarantee will leave you with amazing results.
Volvo Concierge Services is the first expandable digital ecosystem that connects car owners with convenience services via a smartphone App. Developed in response to changing consumer behavior, it provides a seamless ownership experience by expanding on Volvo’s current On Call connected car app.
A pilot program is scheduled to roll out this November in the San Francisco Bay area. It will soon ramp up to allow 300 invited drivers of new Volvo XC90 SUVs and S90 luxury sedans to order services such as remote fuel delivery, valet car cleaning and Volvo maintenance.
“Volvo Concierge Services will mean that you never have to stand out in the rain to fill your car again,” said Lex Kerssemakers, President and CEO of Volvo Car USA. “At Volvo Cars our mission is to make life less complicated, and this is a great example of how in-car technology can be used to deliver this”.
When connected through their mobile device, Volvo Concierge provides a one-time-use digital key, which is location and time-specific, and is sent to the authorized provider to access the vehicle. When services are complete, the car is locked and the digital key expires. The car can either be returned to where the customer left it or delivered to a completely new location at the customer’s request.
Filling the tank, having the car cleaned, and trips for scheduled maintenance can be accomplished while owners are working, sleeping, or even traveling abroad. By working with strategic partners like Filld, fuel delivery and valet services are a click away. Additional services are anticipated to be added in the future. Volvo invites other companies who are focused on delivering new services for the car to join the company’s ecosystem.
“Our vision is to merge connected car technology with an automated fuel delivery service—saving consumers time and money,” said Filld President and CEO Michael Buhr. “Thanks to Volvo’s dedication to creating quality driver experiences, we are a step closer to achieving our goal. We’re thrilled to be delivering gas—and peace of mind—to Volvo owners and look forward to expanding our service to other forward-thinking auto enthusiasts.”
Volvo research shows consumers want convenient and precise on-demand services that save them time. Seventy percent of consumers surveyed said they want fueling services at their fingertips, while 56-percent said they want their car taken for maintenance, and 49-percent liked the idea of being able to have their car moved to another location.
About Volvo Car USA
Volvo Car USA, LLC, (www.volvocars.com/us) is a subsidiary of Volvo Car Group of Gothenburg, Sweden. VCUSA provides marketing, sales, parts, service, technology and training support to Volvo automobile retailers in the United States. For more information please refer to the VCNA media website at: http://www.media.volvocars.com/us
Volvo Car Group in 2015
For the 2015 financial year, Volvo Car Group recorded an operating profit of 6,620 MSEK (2,128 MSEK in 2014). Revenue over the period amounted to 164,043 MSEK (137,590 MSEK). For the full year 2015, global sales reached a record 503,127 cars, an increase of 8 per cent versus 2014. The record sales and operating profit cleared the way for Volvo Car Group to continue investing in its global transformation plan.
About Volvo Car Group
Volvo has been in operation since 1927. Today, Volvo Cars is one of the most well-known and respected car brands in the world with sales of 503,127 in 2015 in about 100 countries. Volvo Cars has been under the ownership of the Zhejiang Geely Holding (Geely Holding) of China since 2010. It formed part of the Swedish Volvo Group until 1999, when the company was bought by Ford Motor Company of the US. In 2010, Volvo Cars was acquired by Geely Holding.
As of December 2015, Volvo Cars had almost 29,000 employees worldwide. Volvo Cars head office, product development, marketing and administration functions are mainly located in Gothenburg, Sweden. Volvo Cars head office for China is located in Shanghai. The company’s main car production plants are located in Gothenburg (Sweden), Ghent (Belgium), Chengdu and Daqing (China), while engines are manufactured in Skövde (Sweden) and Zhangjiakou (China) and body components in Olofström (Sweden).
About Filld
Filld is an app-based service that delivers gas to customer’s cars—day or night, at work or at home—so customers never have to stop for gas again. Filld price-matches to the lowest of the gas stations nearest to the car, and adds a small delivery fee (typically $3), and Filld fuel is double-filtered top-quality gas. The service is currently available in the Bay Area, from San Francisco through San Jose.