VOLVO is planning a new initiative to encourage dealers to buy high-mileage ex-fleet cars and help prop- up residual values.

The new programme was announced to Volvo dealers in January with the aim of stimulating them to buy more cars with 60,000-plus miles on the clock to support RVs across the range and reduce wholelife costs for both fleet and retail customers.

Volvo also wants to improve the standards of the used car programme throughout its network and 'ensure a premium programme for a premium brand'.

Corporate sales manager Ian Rendle said: 'We want to see more of the three-year/ 60,000-mile and four-year/ 80,000-mile cars going through our dealers so we can help strengthen residual values of our products even further.'