So long Volvo, it was nice knowin' ya.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

R.I.P.

The Chinese will undoubtedly water down the brand and build a slew of crappy cars in the coming years, riding the long-established marquee reputation for quality right into the ground. It will take time for people to learn to associate "Volvo" with "crap" so they're just hoping to make back at least $1.2B using this strategy before it catches up with them. Sad. It's gonna' be a train wreck. Actually I suspect your chances of surviving a train wreck would be better than in a Geely-made "Volvo". Volvos have never been terribly exciting cars, but they are great cars - always built like a brick outhouse and among the highest safety-rated consistently. It'll be sad to see them get corroded from the inside-out.

- - - - -

BBC News - Volvo sale signed by Geely and Ford

- - - - -


Volvo sale signed by Geely and Ford

The Chinese car maker Geely has signed a deal to buy Volvo from US car giant Ford for $1.8bn (£1.2bn).

The agreement, which was first announced in December, is the biggest overseas purchase by a Chinese car manufacturer.

"Today represents a milestone for Geely," the company's chairman Li Shufu said.

Loss-making Volvo has been on the market since 2008, when Ford put it and several other brands up for sale.

Jaguar and Land Rover in the UK have already been sold to India's Tata Motors.

Ford hopes that the sale of Volvo will help it pay off its debts and focus on its core brands, following a dire period for the global car industry.

The deal represents a loss for Ford, however, having bought Volvo in 1999 for $6.5bn.

Geely, China's biggest independent car maker, has pledged to keep Volvo as a separate company with its headquarters remaining in Sweden.

However, significant manufacturing is expected to take place in China, making Volvos for Chinese consumers.

Analysts view the deal as a good one for Volvo, which has struggled to grow sales and has not made a profit since 2005.

That is in contrast to the Chinese market it will now have access to, which overtook the US last year as the world's biggest car market.

More than 13 million cars were sold in China last year - a rise of nearly 50% on the previous year.

Geely says it expects annual sales in China to total 400,000 this year.

Its international sales are tiny by comparison, however, and the company is expected to benefit from the foothold in the European market that Volvo will give them.

[dewolf]

I like these....V70R. Factory 300HP IIRC.

[85eurocarrera]

Just rolled past 105,xxx

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by dewolf

I like these....V70R. Factory 300HP IIRC.

That would be the one volvo i would ever want to own.

Nice car.

[Scuba Steve]

I wonder about the durability of the first ones manufactured largely in China vs. my wife's 18-year old 960. Then 5 years later when the new ones are 5 years old and this car will be in its mid-20s. And yes, she'll be driving something else around at that point if she wants to... I plan on keeping this car around because it can tow a small trailer.

[pwd72s]

Never owned a Volvo...but the news saddens me. Remember the P-1800 driven by "The saint" Roger Moore?

[daepp]

I put 200K+ on 1990 240Dl.. Not exciting, but what a great, solid car. RIP!

[RWebb]

"water down the brand and build a slew of crappy..."

- you mean like they did with Lenovo??

I think you are confusing them with the US -- esp. GM.

[Evans, Marv]

The Chinese just bought another chunk.

[pwd72s]

[Geronimo '74]

Originally Posted by m21sniper

That would be the one volvo i would ever want to own.

Nice car.

Oh yeah, you and me both!!

Man those wheels are awesome!! (BBS LM, not?)

[GG Allin]

I've never owned one, I won't miss them.

[mossguy]

Originally Posted by 85eurocarrera

Just rolled past 105,xxx

This looks like an R. Is it?

Thanks,
Tom

[stevepaa]

on our 5th, first was a 69 sedan that got totaled when a truck swiped one side.
1992 went 300k miles and given to neighbor who still uses is
just traded the v70 (150k miles) for a v70XC

maybe the quality will still be there

[sprio]

Waiting on my V50-Rdesign, ordered at end of January. Should be here week after next. Special ordered, manual tranny, light on the options. My first Volvo - only went there because of the paucity of wagons with straight shifts. Guess I got in just in time!

[M.D. Holloway]

I ahev a 2002 V70T and let me tell you, it is one great ride! Very well engineered, fast as a bugger and solid as a Momma's love.

My question is, can the Chinese pronounce V?

[daepp]

I saw a new Volvo not long ago that looked at lot like the old P1800 Wagon. Very cool!

[DARISC]

Originally Posted by DAEpperson

I saw a new Volvo not long ago that looked at lot like the old P1800 Wagon. Very cool!

I'm guessing like this one? I bought this new, two years ago: 2008, C30 T5, 227 hp, 5 cyl. turbo, 6 spd manual. Not the greatest mpg but quiet and good low rpm torque (0 - 60, 6.3 sec).

I fell in love with its looks and, having just turned 18k miles, really, really like the car - it's a grrreat cruiser and grocery-getter that compliments my SC nicely.

Pisser is the 18" gummy tires; worn slick in just 18k of mostly benign city driving. Having Falken all seasons put on today - 45k mile warranty. Should work fine ( I only drive this car; I DRIVE the SC ).

[mossguy]

I would expect China to follow the same path as the Japanese did. They went from
tinplate novelties and little paper umbrellas to Nikon, Seiko, Panasonic, and Lexus.

Best,
Tom

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I wouldn't.

And I don't.

They'll collapse under their own weight before they ever get to that point. I just wish they wouldn't steal so much of our manufacturing base, financial stability and future in the meantime.

I will give the Chinese the fact that they're screwing things up in their country at a slower rate than we are at the moment, which I guess isn't saying much.