Though Chinese company Geely is a majority shareholder, everything about Volvo design and engineering is Swedish. Volvo buyers who want to experience the Scandinavian surrounds that inspire the company’s design, engineering and larger sustainability mission can enroll in the Overseas Delivery (OSD) Program.
The OSD Program started in 1956 and continues today, with a brief stoppage during the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s available only to U.S.-based Volvo buyers of internal combustion engine and plug-in hybrid vehicles that are made in Ghent, Belgium or Sweden.
Enrollment in the OSD Program is relatively straightforward and simple. Buyers place an order for a new XC90, XC60, or XC40 from a dealer in the U.S. (all except one in Nashville participate), opting for OSD at that time. By checking that proverbial box, they are agreeing to receive a 5 percent discount off the MSRP of their vehicle (no haggling required) a luxe trip for two to Sweden to see where Volvos are made, and to explore the city that Volvo calls home, Gothenburg.
OSD is only available for Volvo buyers, not lessees.
Volvo invited Newsweek to participate in OSD as if I was purchasing a new SUV and had opted for OSD as a customer, aside from the dealership visit.
The automaker offers roundtrip Premium Economy airfare for two to Gothenburg, Sweden, for program participants. But, they’re willing to work with you. A company representative told me that it’s not unusual for someone to ask to downgrade the fare class of their tickets to bring, for example, their children with them.
SAS, a Scandinavian carrier, flies from many major U.S. cities, including New York, Los Angeles, and Atlanta. It’s part of the SkyTeam Global Airline Alliance, a cooperative group of airlines that forms a global flight network and includes other companies, KLM, Air France and Delta among them. SAS is one of the company’s preferred airline partners for the Program.
I ended up on an overnight flight into Amsterdam on a Delta flight as the SAS flight didn’t work for my schedule. From there, I hopped on a small regional jet to Gothenburg, arriving around 1:30 p.m., just a few short hours before sunset.
A traffic-free luxury Volvo taxi ride into downtown Gothenburg was next, followed by a quick check in at the Jacy’z Hotel. The boutique high-rise hotel is heavy on nouveau cozy, if not bizarre modern design (two chairs made of stuffed animals feature in the lobby) and was chock full of locals and travelers.
The rooms are stylish and though mine overlooked the highway, but there was little noise that made its way to the 17th floor. Volvo provides two nights of accommodations at the hotel as part of the program, three if you are a loyal Volvo customer.
The Program’s package also includes dinner for two at a selection of restaurants in downtown Gothenburg. I dined at SK Mat & Människor, a One Star Michelin restaurant owned by chef Stefan Karlsson. The tasting course menu featured dishes rooted in Scandinavian cuisine that were expertly paired with wines from around the globe.
It was the second time I had eaten at the restaurant, and I would be happy to be a frequent diner. The subtle ambience of the location is accented by calm paint tones and parquet flooring. It’s chic, intimate and comfortable at the same time.
The next morning I was picked up by the same taxi that delivered me to the hotel the day before and taken a half-hour north to Torslanda for a tour of the Volvo plant.
The majority of vehicles OSD customers order are built at Torslanda. Some come from Ghent, Belgium, but can be shipped to Gothenburg for the program. I saw the Volvo XC60 and XC60 being built on the line, mostly in colors that reflect the Gothenburg scenery, with the exception of seven Fusion Red bodies. Models in that color have to be built seven at a time because of paint shop processes.
Volvo’s Torslanda plant provides a good look at the current state of vehicle building in the world. Some of the work is done by hand, much of it assisted by devices meant to minimize strain on the worker. Tasks that benefit from precision and are usually human labor intensive are performed by robots. Delivery of parts around the plant is done by autonomous vehicles and employees ride bicycles to get from one area to the next.
After the hour-long tour was over, I ventured back downtown to the World of Volvo where OSD guests can explore the on-site Volvo museum and experience center, enjoy a complementary lunch at the in-house Ceno restaurant, and take delivery of their new Volvo.
Ceno is not your typical museum restaurant. It’s part of Karlsson’s restaurant empire and its food is so highly regarded that locals stop by for a meal. The open atmosphere of the restaurant paired with live music that was quite chic for your average Friday lunch.
Taking delivery of a new Volvo isn’t as simple as being handed the keys. The company puts on a bit of a show. OSD participants are ushered into a private lounge at World of Volvo before being taken to a downstairs area where their new vehicle has been staged, wrapped in a gray Volvo-branded silk, awaiting the moment of its reveal.
A Volvo team member greeted me at the door, introducing themselves and walking me over to their specific area where some comfortable seating and a table provides the surface for signing final paperwork. Buyers can choose to remove the silk themselves, or watch the big reveal from a few steps back.
The team member who assisted my vehicle handover told me that many people film the reveal and some even cry with joy when they see their vehicle for the first time.
Post reveal, team members go over all the finer details of the new model with the buyer, including pairing their phone and ensuring they understand the functionalities of the car’s features. This is done at the speed of the buyer with no question too detailed.
After the final signatures have been applied to the necessary paperwork, customers climb behind the wheel and are taken on a quick loop test drive to ensure there are no further questions.
Volvo provides 15 days of insurance for the vehicle upon delivery from World of Volvo. That means that owners can extend their trip in Scandinavia and Europe beyond the confines of the program and use their new vehicle instead of relying on public transit or a rental car.
When they are done with their adventure, the new owners deliver the vehicle back to Volvo at one of company’s 12 designated drop off points within the region. If a customer opts for a location that is not Gothenburg, there is a small charge, which varies.
Instead of wrapping up the program the traditional way, I drove the XC60 Volvo had prepped for me as a loaner back to the hotel. The next day I road tripped to Copenhagen with a friend, test driving the XC60 and stopping off for coffee and a pastry in the town of Falkenberg at the small but positively delightful cafe, Borgmästargården Kafé & Konditori.
Ahead of my arrival in Copenhagen, OSD’s travel agency had recommended sites to see and a tour of the city based on my preferences, an added perk of the program.
Had I been a traditional OSD driver, I would have needed to turn in my new car at the end of my trip so it could be shipped to the U.S., where I’d be able to pick it up from my local dealer in 60-90 days. There is no charge to shipping to the U.S.
Because I was sticking around in Copenhagen to test drive the new-generation XC90, Volvo representatives kindly took care of helping the XC60 find its way back to Sweden.
Volvo is on pace to do 950 OSD deliveries in 2024, up from 649 in 2023. They want to exceed 1,350 next year.
Not only is the plan to grow and continually refine the program for U.S. and overseas U.S. military customers, Volvo is researching expanding it to U.S. shores for European customers. The company has a plant outside Charleston, South Carolina.
If I was buying a new Volvo, I cannot imagine not taking advantage of the program. It’s a win on so many levels.
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