Hundreds set to visit Sweden as Million Dollar Campaign Launches

A new million dollar campaign could see hundreds of New Zealanders head to Sweden and visit Gothenburg, the largest port in Scandinavia and a city known for its advanced self driving cars.

The promotion, organised by local car brand Volvo, will see the company give all customers who purchase a new Volvo during a 12 week campaign period a trip for two to Sweden.

As part of their trip, they will visit Gothenburg where preparations are now underway for the world’s first autonomous driving trial - Volvo will test 100 of its autonomous cars on public roads driven in normal traffic by members of the public starting within the next 12 months. Tours of the Volvo factory and museum also feature in the itinerary.

Volvo NZ National Manager Coby Duggan says the campaign will cost the company $1 million and he expects up to 200 Kiwi’s will take up the free trip.

Duggan says Volvo is leading the way in terms of new self-driving and vehicular safety technology, and it makes sense for the testing to be done in Sweden, the home of Volvo.

“Sweden has invested heavily in road safety strategies and has less road fatalities than New Zealand despite having twice the population we do.” he says.

Duggan says Volvo is developing its autonomous Drive Me System which is capable of handling a range of conditions from heavy traffic to emergency situations.

“Our plan is to ensure that no one should be seriously injured or killed in a new Volvo car from 2020, which is only possible with the help of automated technology,” he says.