|
David,
the Apple example I understand. I am just not sure it applies to Volvo, at this time. The certain "quality issues" that existed for some 1998 and 1999 models were not a result of their engineers spread too thin. This is my opinion and nothing else; they suffered by stretching certain parts suppliers by demanding faster delivery and at a lower cost. Something has gotten to "give". I thik they learned their lesson and you can already see a STARTLING improvement and a return to the good old times.
As far as number of products; I believe that will take care of itself. With the advent of the XC90, you will start seeing the "demise", if you will, of teh V70XC. First year, I do expect to see a drop of about 15% to 20% of XC sales because the XC90 will be produced in fairly significant (for 1st year model) numbers. The C70 is an old horse that is just dying a merciful death, right now. The S/V40s have one more year of life and that is good because they are showing their age, despite being wonderful "little" cars. Remember in the 80s and early 90s? Volvo took 7 years or so before they introduced a new model. They cannot get away, in this day and age, with such tactics. They have to introduce something new or refreshen every 2 years or they are dead!
Apple may have lost market share in the recent past, but Volvo's market share (eventhough slowly) has increased. Their sales numbers go up every year. But they have let other manufacturers overlap them (BMW, Mercedes, Lexus, etc.). Very few things SUCK about Volvo (sorry for the graphic term) and one of them is their Marketing strategy. It took years for Volvo to get rid of the old patriarchs who ran the company for decades and almost doomed it in the early 90s. I hope it will not take them that long to get rid of the last holdout of the old regime; boring and uninspired marketing...All they have to do is borrow some ideas from Ford (for volume) and from BMW/Audi/VW (for class and innovation).
Yannis
--
2001 V70 T-5M, Classic Red/Graphite Lthr., Sunroof, Cold Weather, Dolby Surr. Sound, Rear Spoiler, 17' 'Tethys' alloys
|
