Kristianstads Automobil –
Volvo dealer with traditions

English translation of the story
Kristianstads Automobil –
Volvohandlare med tradition
in the PV-Entusisten # 3 1999 page 20-21.

By Tommy Hemert

On April 1 1932 Gunnar and Bertil Tuvesson together with Rasmus Nilsson were awarded the Volvo agency in a district with Kristianstad in the middle. It contained the surrounding area of about 30 miles.

Humble start

The start took place in a small apartment with three small rooms in the old Schenholm house at the Östra Boulevarden in Kristianstad. Mr. Tuvesson and Mr. Nilsson set up a sales office in one room with a kitchen table as the only furniture.
The "financial" section had one room with an old double desk as a working table. The spare parts section had the third room which in itself was a luxury since the spares parts themself could be stored in one suitcase.
Gunnar Tuvesson was manager, Rasmus Nilsson head of sales and Bertil Tuvesson head of spares store.
This was the whole staff during 1932.

Expansion

The company opened its first workshop in 1933 in its new facilitiy on the Södra Boulevarden. The next stage in the development of the company was the opening of a body workshop in Hammar and a spare parts store with it that was added in 1942.
In 1964 the whole truck section moved to Hammar about three kilometers outside Kristianstad. In 1972 the rest of the company moved to Hammar.
In 1932 the company had three employees and a turnover of 57000 Swedish Kronor. In 1999 the number of employees is about 80 with a turnover of 240 Million Swedish Kronor.
There have been many faithful old employees during the years. One of those who have been working the longest time in the company is Ragnar Persson. He started as a store assistant in the 30's and worked as store manager until 1987 when he left after almost 50 years in the company.
Ragnar also had two brothers who worked for the company. Gunnar started in 1934 and has been workshop manager. Karl-Erik started in 1936 and has been head of diesel operations. Gunnar and Karl-Erik both left the company in the 70's.
Kristianstads Automobil AB is one of the ten oldest Volvo dealers in Sweden.

Original story by Tommy Hemert,

Translation by Dan Jansson, (thanks to Mark Hershoren for assistance)