END OF YEAR - VOLVO - The Swedish giant finishes the year 18.1% up on 2015 & has its best December since 2004.

• Finishes 2016 with 18 Percent Sales Increase

Volvo Car USA, LLC, (VCUSA) reported U.S. sales of 10,129 vehicles in December, an 8.4 percent increase versus December 2015 and the best December since 2004. Sales for the month were led by the award-winning XC90 with 3,308 vehicles sold.

For the year, VCUSA sold 82,724 vehicles, up 18.1 percent year-over-year. The XC90 finished 2016 in the top spot with 32,526 vehicles sold, followed by the XC60 and S60.

“In addition to the positive sales results, Volvo made significant strides in brand transformation in the United States,” said Lex Kerssemakers, President and CEO, Volvo Car USA. “We were just recently named one of the top five most googled automotive brands of the year, a clear testament to both our brand and product success.”

Volvo is implementing a sweeping $11 billion transformation plan that has involved the development of its own modular vehicle architecture, a new engine range, global manufacturing capability, a completely renewed product range and world leading developments in safety, autonomous driving and connectivity.