Safety may have always been the big thing with Volvo, but reports say the Swedish automaker is looking at upping its image beyond being safe and dependable as owner Geely Automobile aims to broaden the brand’s appeal to woo new customers and take the fight to the competition, especially in what will be eventually its largest market in the world, China.
The shift, the company says, is needed as it seeks to climb back up the ladder in terms of market share globally. It says that it should comfortably meet its target of delivering 425,000 vehicles this year, and growth projections could see an expected increase of 140,000 units through 2014, though even with this gain it’s likely to lag behind its German competitors, namely Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi, which are all set to make a significant jump in sales figures too.
Still, that’s no reason not to try, and the company says that it will be focusing strongly on the Chinese market, in the process adding significant infrastructure there. New models will undoubtedly help in its quest, and it is already planning to come up with a new car designed for China in 2013. Earlier in the year, Volvo announced that it would be building a new plant in Chengdu and is mulling over a second factory as well as an engine plant that will have a build capacity of 200,000 to 300,000 engines.
China looks set to overtake the US as Volvo’s largest market, and this could come as early as 2012, hence the view of establishing the country as its second home market, the company states.
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chinese people saying they are fun. what a joke.
way to go Volvo. Good move!
how many times have we heard this from volvo..i personally think their present designs and drive trains are top notch..all they need to do now is really improve their handling…they could maybe get consultants from lotus or snag a few engineers from bmw etc to teach them to design cars that actually go around corners…i feel they are solely lacking in it…other aspects are matched pound for pound with the germans stalwarts..especially their new generation cars like the s 60…get the handling sorted and u guys be fine……
There was nothing wrong with volvo of recent years, its just dat they’re too bloody expensive…., dats d problem when u hv high labour costs in sweden… hv to move d factory to china,
ur right shawal…most of their part are made in EU still…its reli weird tat they still do, even BMW etc outsource to asia..may be its their social responsibilty?…
About their engines, electric etc…FACT they a few generation behind the other german and even the japenese carmakers….most of it have been upgraded frm the 1st s80 all those years ago….like the B520 or the B525 engines…
Im not sayin that its bad but if u compare interms of tech, hardware and software they are at least 3 years behind the germans….i love volvos but they reli have to mean what they say NOW!!