In this section we will first focus in Volvo Cars‟ marketing strategy: how the brand has tried to change and modernize its image while still sticking to its fundamental values of safety, ecology, quality and design. We will then focus more precisely on its marketing strategy in France and in Sweden.
Volvo signifies “I roll” in Latin. In 70 years, Volvo has communicated on the safety and the quality of its cars as we comprehended from its website. The company has managed to keep very loyal customers thanks to personalized direct marketing strategies. Indeed, its customers are invited to private events organized by Volvo such as new car models testing and they are even rewarded by gifts if they have brought Volvo a new customer. Moreover, Volvo has asserted its upper scale position as a brand by sponsoring events linked to the industry of luxury such as golf tournaments or sailing - currently, the Volvo Ocean Race, which is a nine month race in extreme conditions and which is seen as a very important race in the world of sailing (Volvooceanrace.com 2010)10. Volvo has managed to assert its image of upper scale reliable automobile manufacturer –which very often compared to Audi (Turbo.fr 2010)11 (We have found examples such as the C30 being compared with the A3, the S60 with the A4 and the XC60 with the Q5), and has been very profitable until 2007 (Latribune.fr 2010)12. Nevertheless, despite its wish to remain close to its customers and to provide innovative and safe good quality cars corresponding to contemporary needs – such as environment friendly cars – Volvo has been in deficit since 2007 (Latribune.fr 2010)12. In order to face this and to get back on tracks, the brand has changed several aspects of its marketing policy. The following illustrations depict a wish from Volvo to be seen as a more dynamic and younger brand while still innovating to remain close to its customers and build a privileged relationship with them. This will to have a younger image might mean that Volvo has associated its losses with its image and that it might has felt that among its targets, its image was becoming old and too centered on the family. We will see later in this chapter how Volvo brand is perceived by the people we have asked and we will then discuss whether or not Volvo had understood the adaptations that needed to be done according to the evolutions of the market and new expectations from the consumers.
Volvo Cars‟ wish to diversify its target and to adapt its brand image started in 2006, with the launch of the Volvo C30 which was its first actually small car with a size adapted to the traffic of the city and the growing need to consume less fuel –Volvo already had three models of smaller cars, but the C30 was designed to target a more urban and younger customer who would not be attracted by a very big car which represent most of Volvo Cars models.
With the launch of the C30 in 2007 – which has been compared to the Audi A3 and the BMW serie 1 (Caradisiac.com 2010)13 –, Volvo had a real will to make its brand image look younger and dynamic. To advertise those smaller cars which are not only dedicated to their usual customers – its core target – such as families, and to try to attract a younger target, it used psychedelic and colorful images (Video from Volvo Cars‟ commercial 2007 seen on Dailymotion.com 2010)14. Indeed, when launching the C30, Volvo resorted to 16 short animated movies. With those original and colorful commercials it really aimed at interacting with its targets by soliciting their point of view rather than directly emphasizing the technical