Going once, going twice - sold ! The eBay charity auction for the first new Volvo FH to roll off the production line has been a true success. The winning bid of 150,000 Euros (£120,000) greatly exceeds the market price and all proceeds will go to the Star for Life programme.
The winning bid was placed by Jean-Pierre Ducournau, founder of Ducournau Transports in France, with a fleet of more than 300 Volvo trucks. He is now the proud owner of the first new series-built FH - a visibly unique special-edition truck with an exclusive 'number one' emblem on the front.
"I am so pleased to have won this auction," says Jean-Pierre Ducournau. "In the mid-seventies, I was first in the south of France to own a Volvo F12 truck and for several decades I have been supporting different charity auctions."
The auction web site attracted almost 165,000 visitors. All told, 35 bidders from all over Europe placed more than 95 bids for the first new Volvo FH during the ten-day eBay auction. It was clear from the outset that the winning bid would be high, since the market price was passed after just one day.
"We are incredibly proud that so many people were willing to pay so much money for the first new Volvo FH. This says a lot, not only about the truck's worth as a one-off collector's item, but also about its appeal as a whole," says Claes Nilsson, President of Volvo Trucks.
All the proceeds from the auction will be donated to Star for Life - a unique educational programme that aims to stop the spread of HIV among young people in Southern Africa. Star for Life's vision is to inspire young people to believe in their dreams and in their future and to help them live a life without AIDS. Volvo Trucks finances the programme in 16 schools around Durban and Johannesburg.
"Although Star for Life only started in 2005, studies show that the programme generates great results. The number of new HIV diagnoses has significantly decreased among students and so too has the number of teenage pregnancies," says Claes Nilsson.
In spring 2013, the winner will be invited to hand over the donation in person at a ceremony in South Africa to the school chosen to be the recipient of his funds.
"I am very pleased to be able to help these children," says Jean-Pierre Ducournau.
The auction started on September 19th and was open for ten days to bidders from all over Europe, including Russia, Turkey and Israel.