Nineteen ninety-eight was an eventful and in some ways very successful year for the Volvo Group. It was also a year of analysis and strategic deliberations with respect to the future orientation of the Group, a process that has now resulted in the proposed sale of Volvo Cars to Ford Motor Company.

Volvo’s intention is to build a partially new, even stronger Volvo, focused on commercial products. Sales in 1998 were strong and - excluding acquisitions - increased in all business areas.