Fly Volvo! And get a free trip to Scandinavia
by Sanne, 11 November 2015
This summer on a trip to San Francisco, I discovered a great way to shop for a new car.
My American cousin-in-law bought a Volvo and got a free trip to Sweden to pick it up directly from the factory. I couldn't believe it!
I’d never heard about a car manufacturer paying for you to travel abroad, tour around Europe with your new car, and once the trip is over, ship it anywhere in the US at no cost.
Where I'm from, cars are taxed 250 percent upon import - making the price of a Fiat in Denmark equal to the price of a BMW in the US. In other words, buying a car is an expensive proposition. While it sounded too good to be true, it turns out that many Americans are familiar with such schemes. Programs similar to the Volvo Overseas Delivery program used to be very popular with American tourists and government officials who needed a car for the duration of their stay in Europe.
From talking with fellow Scandinavians, it seems that many newcomers to the US are not aware of this opportunity. You don’t even have to worry about customs duty or port clearance fees.
Here's how it works: The Volvo Overseas Delivery program offers anybody a chance to visit western Sweden to pick up their Volvo straight from the factory. If you are a US resident, 18 years of age, and hold a valid drivers license and passport you are eligible to participate in the program. Included in the offer are:
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Two round-trip airfare tickets on SAS or British Airways
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Access to SAS business lounge
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Airport pick-up in Gothenburg
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Hotel accommodation for one night
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A tour of the Volvo factory
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A test drive of your new car on Volvo's private tracks
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Six months European auto registration
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Two weeks of prepaid European auto insurance
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Free shipping of your new vehicle to anywhere in the US within six months
Not bad!
To be honest - and this should come as no surprise to fellow Scandinavians - Volvo was never my dream car growing up. And I personally never saw myself driving around in one of those giant SUVs.
Today, as our family is growing and our priorities are changing, Volvo - with its great reputation for top safety-picks - is starting to look increasingly attractive. Driving with two kids, and family visiting from out of town, we need a minibus to fit everyone and travel together safely.
Recently, on a road-trip to Canada we rented a Jeep Grand Cherokee. I have to admit, the extra space was amazing. I am starting to think that the new Volvo XC90 with third-row seating might just be the perfect choice for our family. And why not make a trip out of it - indeed a convenient adventure for some, or just a trip back home for us Scandies.
Visit www.flyvolvo.com to get all the details. Or maybe you fancy a BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi or Porsche? These European manufacturers offer similar delivery programs.
