Volvo Service Techs To Make House Calls

Consumers dislike visiting dealerships for vehicle service and repairs — and they really hate taking time off of work waiting for their cars to be fixed.

As a result, Volvo Cars of North America (VCNA) has come up with a program called Mobile Tech. Volvo owners still must visit the dealership for major work.

But if they get a recall notice and need an inspection, or they need a headlamp, wiper blade, bulb, or hose replaced, additional keys made or fluid levels topped off, Volvo sends the technician to the customer.

Mobile Tech has been test marketed in Detroit, Boston, Minneapolis and Pittsburgh. Volvo hopes to have it up and running at dealerships in 150 major metro markets within a year, says Vic Doolan, president and CEO of VCNA.

“We want to make life easier for our customers and so we'll come to their homes or offices to do the work,” Doolan says. “People tell us they don't want to use their time on something we created. So it makes sense to go to the consumer rather than have them come to us.”

Dealers charge what the service would run at their store, but there's no charge if it's warranty or recall work.