Volvo to increase its technician count by 50% by 2020, meaning at least 5 per site.

Volvo Car UK will actively seek 300 new technicians to increase numbers by almost 50% UK dealerships will average five technicians per site by 2020 Recruits will get the chance to work on exciting, industry-leading technologies Volvo Car UK is launching a nationwide recruitment drive for 300 new technicians to join its 119-strong dealer network by 2020, in line with the brand's increasing sales and its growing product range. The award-winning S90 and V90 models most recently joined Volvo's impressive line-up, and with more new products set to arrive in the coming years, Volvo aims to increase its technical talent by almost 50%, adding to the 600 existing dealership technicians to support the brand and meet the demands of the network as its sales continue to grow year-on-year. Volvo is establishing itself as an industry leader in new technologies such as autonomous drive and connectivity, where their application is designed to make drivers' lives easier and safer.  With cars that include technology such as Pilot Assist, Volvo's innovative semi-autonomous drive feature, advanced technical knowledge is vital to keep customers' cars in the best possible condition. The increased stream into Volvo's dealership aftersales teams will see, on average, five technicians per site by 2020, with fast-track development opportunities available through innovative web-based training and one-to-one assessments. Volvo retailers offer this through a structured career path, leading to ongoing certifications and qualifications, which can start from Service Apprentice through to Volvo's highest technical accolade, Master Technician. The recruitment drive further reinforces the need for talented technicians to join the brand as it marks the next steps in Volvo's Volvo Retail Experience (VRE) and Volvo Personal Service (VPS) programmes, both announced in 2015. VRE, designed to create a space for customers in which high levels of visual transparency are key, creates an open and inclusive working environment where, as part of VPS, technicians can work alongside other technicians in multi-skilled teams, engaging with customers and managing their own relationships with Volvo owners. As Volvo continues to change its retail landscape to keep pace with the evolving market, there is now also a need for a product specialist to work in all of Volvo's soon-to-be network of state-of-the-art UK dealerships. These specialists will further enrich the customer buying and ownership experience through their knowledge and insights, making customers' lives less complicated through a human-centric approach. Jon Wakefield, Managing Director, Volvo Car UK, commented: "Any technician joining Volvo will get the chance to work on exciting industry-leading technology, including autonomous drive, in-car connectivity and hybrid powertrains. For those looking to join our 600-strong team of technicians, our continued investment into our staff will allow them to progress their knowledge of new car technology, engineering and design – and grow alongside the Volvo brand." The recruitment news comes after the announcement of Volvo Car UK's £6 million investment into a new state-of-the-art training centre in Daventry, to enhance further its successful apprenticeship and development schemes.

Volvo announces annual profits, Turnover and sales for the last 12 months.

Volvo Cars, the premium car maker, has reported a robust 66 per cent increase in operating profit in 2016 to SEK11.0bn compared with SEK6.6bn in 2015, as global sales hit a new record of 534,332 cars.

Net revenue for the period increased 10 per cent to SEK180.7bn compared with SEK164.0bn in 2015, while the operating profit margin improved significantly, from 4.0 per cent in 2015 to 6.1 per cent in 2016.

The results provide the latest proof that Volvo’s ongoing financial and operational transformation is gathering pace. Global sales rose 6.2 per cent, underpinned by an 11.5 per cent increase in China and an 18.1 per cent rise in the US, Volvo’s two largest individual sales markets.

“Volvo is going from strength to strength,” said Håkan Samuelsson, president and chief executive. “The new models are successful, sales are at record levels and profits are up substantially, reflecting the contribution of all our employees. On the back of these achievements, I foresee that 2017 will also be a record year in terms of sales.”

The last financial year was an important one for Volvo Cars.

For the first time in its 89-year history, it conducted a €500m bond issue in May, followed in November by a SEK3bn bond issue. In December, it raised a further SEK5bn from the sale of equity to three institutions.

On the operational front, Volvo Cars completed the roll-out of its top-of-the-range 90 series cars during 2016, successfully repositioning the brand as a genuine premium competitor.

Volvo Cars also announced two significant new alliances in 2016 that reinforce its leading position in autonomous driving, connectivity and safety.

In August, it joined forces with Uber, the ride-sharing company, to develop next-generation autonomous driving cars. In September, it announced plans to create a new joint venture with Autoliv, the worldwide leader in automotive safety systems, to develop autonomous driving software, the first time a leading premium car maker has joined forces with a tier-one supplier to develop new ADAS and AD technologies.

“With these alliances, Volvo Cars is positioning itself for coming changes in the automotive industry. These themes of sustainable profitability, rising sales and new business initiatives will be continued in 2017,” said Mr Samuelsson.