USA: Volvo offers to fuel up, wash cars for customers
Volvo is challenging service stations by rolling out a pilot programme that will refuel and clean cars for owners while they are at work.
The international car manufacturer is promising customers they “will never have to stop at a petrol station, go to a car wash or even take your car in for service ever again,” as part of its new services that will be part of the Volvo On Call Mobile platform.
The pilot programme is starting in November in San Francisco, targeting Volvo owners driving the new XC90 SUV and S90 luxury sedan, and will include some 300 owners.
“Imagine parking your car in the morning at work and when you head home your car has been serviced, cleaned and refuelled. These are the kind of services we want to deliver to our customers,” said Björn Annwall, Senior Vice President, Global Consumer Experience at Volvo Car Group.
Research by Volvo has shown that over 70% of customers want fuelling services at their fingertips, while 56 per cent want their car picked up for routine maintenance, and 49 per cent would like to be able to have their car moved to another location when desired.
The app provides a one-time-use digital key, which is location and time-specific, and sends it out to the authorised service provider. When services are complete, the car is locked and the digital key expires.