IWS Holdings accepting orders for Volvo XC90
Arthur Senanayake and Jari Kohonen
The IWS Holdings Group, known for dealerships in major luxury vehicle brands, is taking orders for Volvo XC90, a mid-size luxury crossover SUV on the back of its newly secured dealership, officials said. Appointed as the new dealer of Volvo in Sri Lanka last August, IWS Holdings Group (IWS) has many plans to market this brand under the luxury vehicle segment, according to Arthur Senanayake, Chairman IWS.
“We’re setting up a state of the art, fully integrated 3S facility (Sales, Service and Spare parts) spread over a total area of 20,000 sq.ft in Peliyagoda (Colombo) facing the Kandy Road,” he told the Business Times. This will be at the Panapitiya building premises on the Kandy Road and will be worth US$ 2 million. Mr. Senanayake added that it will be sporting an attractive layout and functionalities for better customer experience.
The Volvo XC90 is positioned for a luxury but affordable market, he added saying that it has low fuel horse consumption and 2-litre high power. The car will be officially launched in August. The company is taking orders now on the back of the 62,500 duty free (reduced duty) permits released for government servants. Vice President of Asia-Pacific Region, Volvo Cars Corporation – Jari Kohonen, joining in the discussion, said that Volvo Car Corp of Sweden is revamping its global dealer facilities in delivering the concept VRE (Volvo Retail Experience) to its high profile customers and was a good pick. Volvo’s vision is to become the most desirable premium car brand, he said.
Highlighting the new designs and innovations in this car he said, the development of new safety systems, the advanced fuel efficiency and safety technologies stand tall. “There are ‘Scandinavian influences’ everywhere in the new Volvo XC90.”
He added that with Volvo Cars’ long held Vision 2020 the Swedish carmaker aims to deliver cars in which no one is seriously injured or killed by the year 2020. Mr. Senanayake said that many local firms had applied to secure this agency, but IWS was successful in securing it.
He said that at their new 3S facility, the customer will be in direct contact with the technicians. About the positives that Volvo XC90 will bring to the local market, Mr. Senanayake added that the 2-litre luxury cars of this size along with fuel consumption of this calibre which has been awarded five stars and achieved top ratings in its 2015 Euro NCAP tests will be an affordable product. He said that after the XC90, a whole gamut of smaller cars will be introduced.