Volvo has announced it will cut the S40 and V50 models from its U.S. market lineup for the 2012 model year, citing poor sales.
This announcement follows last year's axing of the V70 wagon from the American market. Both the S40 sedan and the V50 wagon are aging models with falling sales in the United States.
According to Volvo, S40 sales were down 29 percent last year (2010) and V50 sales dropped more than 50 percent in the same period.
Wagon body-styles variants do not sell well in the United States as opposed to Europe where hatchbacks and wagons have a sportier tradition.
Says Volvo spokesperson Dan Johnston:
"It seemed American buyers weren't looking for that kind of product and for us as a car company, it's not profitable to sell something that has a declining market share."
The Swedish automaker says it will focus on products more in tune with U.S. consumer tastes such as the S60, S80, XC60, XC70 and the XC90. After the V50 is gone, the XC70 wiil be the only wagon left in the U.S. lineup.
