Volvo states intent to quit motorsport, lolz ensue

Volvo's marketing director Alain Visser highlights all the elephants in the room on the way out:

http://www.racecar-engineering.com/news/volvo-set-to-quit-motorsport/

Visser has been critical of motorsport in the past despite claiming to be a serious fan. ‘I love motor sports, but I would never invest the company’s money in it,’ he said during a panel discussion on brand image at a conference held by German magazine Automobilwoche in early 2013. ‘I would be pleased to see a business plan that shows this actually leads to profits. If you analyze 100 sponsorship deals you will learn that the son of one of the board members very often is participating in the sport,’ he continued. ‘Therefore, this decision is not always based on rational reasons.’

They are also no longer doing most of the car shows as well. Only 3 a year or so they said.

http://www.autonews.com/article/20141215/COPY01/312159950?template=mobile&X-IgnoreUserAgent=1

Really cutting expenses in a BIG way

A legit question: How many new Volvos are sold each year based on their motorsports programs?

David S. Wallens wrote: A legit question: How many new Volvos are sold each year based on their motorsports programs?

I dunno, how many people bought Polestars?

I know my parents first considered a Subaru due to WRC in the late 90's (subsequently buying at least two of them new), and my wife is heavily Audi-biased due to their Le Mans success. So there definitely are some results.

I know Volvo does V8 Supercars. Couldn't tell you where else they race.

MCarp22 wrote:

David S. Wallens wrote: A legit question: How many new Volvos are sold each year based on their motorsports programs?

I dunno, how many people bought Polestars?

Like 3 or 4?

Seriously, I know that Volvo has argued with this question before.

I'll bite, what car does Volvo race and which series is it in? It helps a bunch if your car actually wins or competes for wins. Seems to have helped Cadillac appear cool again. I admit, I wouldn't mind driving around in Caddy resembling their race car. Your motorsports program is only as good as the marketing people who actually use it.

The last sentence of the above post is pure gold. You're right. Wins are great, but telling the world is even greater.

Good marketing can go on long after the racing stops. See Subaru and WRC.

Keith Tanner wrote: I know my parents first considered a Subaru due to WRC in the late 90's (subsequently buying at least two of them new), and my wife is heavily Audi-biased due to their Le Mans success. So there definitely are some results. I know Volvo does V8 Supercars. Couldn't tell you where else they race.

they raced world challenge until last yr

Success is part of the equation and marketing is even bigger as stated above. I know of VAGs shortfalls on reliability thanks to this board yet when shopping this summer for a new car I was in an Audi showroom looking at the new S3....Their marketing also drew me in. But I couldn't get it out of my head that as soon as I drive this car off the lot it's going to break eventually.

Volvo is obviously hurting by way of all their actions or just looking for a bigger bottom line. I never witnessed any marketing attempts for any of their racing programs in the first place. They should have just went the way of Toyota. Enlist into Nascar. I see more Toyota trucks and cars driven by Dale Jr. fans than anything else these days.

So does the old saying "win on Sunday, sell on Monday" still carry any weight with manufacturers? If not why are they even involved with motorsports?

NASCAR lost me when they stopped looking like real cars in the late 80's. Touring cars are where my heart is now. The closer they look to the street cars the better. Silhouette cars turn me off, I want my race cars to either be open wheel or production based.

Hey Volvo? Just thought I'd let you know that I still remember when you guys ran the 850 Wagons in touring cars. I'd say that is good marketing. Just because you suck at marketing now, doesn't mean it doesn't work.

Volvo/Polestar provides support for two series:

• STCC
• V8 Supercars

The "other" Volvo S60 V8 Silhouette Solution F (powered by the General) in te Supercar Challenge series is not supported I believe.

If you don't follow those two series . . . You'll never know Volvo still exist. Come to think about it, I haven't seen a Volvo commercial in a long while . . .

I have to say, I don't see volvo around in 5-7 years. Their current cars are very forgettable and pretty pricey for what they are.

They had a great world challenge team but they never once used it to market their cars.

I'm not sure what a new Volvo looks like.

Figge and Pobst had success with Volvo in PWC 2013, but Volvo dropped out for 2014. Volvo's AWD setup was formidable against the more powerful CTS-Vs of O'Connell and Pilgrim. Made for some entertaining and close racing.

Volvo has returned to emphasizing safety in its marketing. There's no word yet if they've successfully wooed the female demo they particularly targeted.

Volvo just wants to follow SAAB... and this is the best way they could figure out how........

GameboyRMH wrote: http://www.racecar-engineering.com/news/volvo-set-to-quit-motorsport/

If you analyze 100 sponsorship deals you will learn that the son of one of the board members very often is participating in the sport,’ he continued.

Well, there's a shock. Business deals often happen between people who have a common contact. Who'd have thought?

For what it's worth, Ford are very keen on motorsports because they very much do see a benefit in getting their name out there. Even when they aren't winning, they're still out there creating a spectacle that has their name all over it.

Wally wrote: I'm not sure what a new Volvo looks like.

most of the ones i see look like this:

conesare2seconds wrote: Figge and Pobst had success with Volvo in PWC 2013, but Volvo dropped out for 2014. Volvo's AWD setup was formidable against the more powerful CTS-Vs of O'Connell and Pilgrim. Made for some entertaining and close racing. Volvo has returned to emphasizing safety in its marketing. There's no word yet if they've successfully wooed the female demo they particularly targeted.

I loved watching those cars and was very sad when Volvo quit.

I saw a new S60 over the weekend, and it looked ok, but not nearly nice enough for what they ask for them. They are behind the times, and they make nothing (save for the Polestar Wagon) that I'm even remotely interested in. And it's not just me; they don't seem to make anything that ANYONE is interested in. They are done.

The yuppies around here have moved on as well. They are all buying A4's, CLA's, and the various entry level BMW's, where they used to buy Saabs and Volvos 5 to 1 over those other cars. That says something.

My wife LOVES her S40 and remains pissed off they dropped them. She has no interest in an S60.

The new S80 styling is kinda funky in pics, too.

I see Volvop ads all the time that emphasize their 'connectedness' and safety features. Most of the Volvos I see are of the articulating variety with a bucket on the front.