It has been more than ten years since Volvo introduced the first generation CC90, and the company has seen sales for the model drop by 21% globally last year (10% in the US alone), much to the chagrin of CEO Hakan Samuelsson, who noted that the premium large SUV was once the brand's best seller.
Back in 2004, the XC90 rivaled the BMW X5 andl was Volvo's No. 1 seller with a volume of 84,032. It was still on top for Volvo in 2007 with 79,140 sales before being beaten by the V50 station wagon in 2008.
"What we have learned about the XC90 is that you have to be very careful when delaying product development, you are borrowing money from the future and you have to pay it back with interest," he said. "It was not very smart to delay that program."
Although the 2013 Volvo XC90 SUV crossover combines luxury design, all-wheel drive and high-tech safety innovations, as well as anti-skid system, and seating for 7, the company does not expect demand to increase until the all-new (second generation) XC90 goes on sale in Europe and the United States in early 2015.
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