Chinese Geely Acquisition Of Volvo Car

[WhiteBlue]

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-200 ... 04279.html

The deal is expected to close in Q1 2010 and is rumored to be valued at 1,8-2,0 billion $. It is unknown what will happen with the Dutch and Swedish production sites.

Geely's parent company BAIC announced that it will integrate Volvo technology ASAP into their current development projects. They also announced a new factory for 150.000 units/a to be operating in 2011. In the same year 100.000 units of the Volvo inspired Chinese cars are planned for production.

[mx_tifoso]

The Chinese are really on the rise, they also took Hummer off of GM's hands. Good bye and good riddance.

And by 'inspired' they surely mean 'copied'.

[xpensive]

Geely chairman Li Shufu, promises both development and production will remain outside Gothenburg, Sweden.

I'd rather believe in Santa.

[WhiteBlue]

Geely chairman Li Shufu, promises both development and production will remain outside Gothenburg, Sweden.

I'd rather believe in Santa.

+1

[Richard]

Seems like Scandanavian car manufacturing is 5 to 10 years behind the UK

[Pandamasque]

Nooo! Just when they started to make good cars.

[donskar]

Volvo and Saab both gone. The trend continues: in order to survive an auto maker must produce enormous amounts of cars and trucks -- or link with others as Fiat and Chrysler are doing. And the combined WW output is growing faster than demand. Much more shaking out is coming.

Within 10 years we'll have just a very small handful of mega-auto companies. My crystal ball says: (Ford/GM [yes, merged] Renault/Peugot/Nissan/Citroen, Fiat/Chrysler, one Korean automaker, two Indian, three Chinese, Toyota/Subaru, Honda) and an equally small number of specialists: Lotus McLaren, Ferrari, etc.

[Steven]

Seems like Scandanavian car manufacturing is 5 to 10 years behind the UK

Do you mean the build process or the build quality? Because Volvo have been pouring out brilliantly reliable (and beautiful) cars in the last 10 years.

Volvo and Saab both gone. The trend continues: in order to survive an auto maker must produce enormous amounts of cars and trucks -- or link with others as Fiat and Chrysler are doing. And the combined WW output is growing faster than demand. Much more shaking out is coming.

Within 10 years we'll have just a very small handful of mega-auto companies. My crystal ball says: (Ford/GM [yes, merged] Renault/Peugot/Nissan/Citroen, Fiat/Chrysler, one Korean automaker, two Indian, three Chinese, Toyota/Subaru, Honda) and an equally small number of specialists: Lotus McLaren, Ferrari, etc.

Actually the Saab brand is completely disappearing, I hope they keep Volvo alive and let the people continue their work. I just love my C30!

As for the future, have you forgotten about Mercedes/Smart, BMW/Mini or the VW/Audi/Lambo/Skoda/Seat groups?

[Belatti]

Actually the Saab brand is completely disappearing, I hope they keep Volvo alive and let the people continue their work. I just love my C30!

I have driven a friends T5 up to 240Kmh in the freeway, and let me say the car is fine and beautiful!

[xpensive]

On paper at least, the Volvo-deal is just a change of ownerhip from Ford Motor Company (aka the US taxpayers I guess) to some Chinese mobsters, but we will see.

[Richard]

Seems like Scandanavian car manufacturing is 5 to 10 years behind the UK

Do you mean the build process or the build quality? Because Volvo have been pouring out brilliantly reliable (and beautiful) cars in the last 10 years.

I was referring to getting sold from one company to another, like Rover. Stuck with old models (93 and 95) while the new technology is stripped and sold on (like the Mini).

SAAB is going the way of Rover. Volvo is similar to Vauxhall

[xpensive]

Good grief, the comparing of an innovative and original car-manufacturer like Saab with Rover is obviously not relevant,
but mentioning Volvo and Vauxhall in the same breath is outright insulting.

[Pandamasque]

Volvo is similar to Vauxhall

Like Porsche and Proton.

[Steven]

Good grief, the comparing of an innovative and original car-manufacturer like Saab with Rover is obviously not relevant,
but mentioning Volvo and Vauxhall in the same breath is outright insulting.

A fully agree!

I cannot see how vauxhall is similar to volvo. The most important difference is obviously that Volvo makes its own models, sticks to its own distinctive design, which some like a lot and other don't at all. Vauxhall on the other hand is nothing more than a name, a different name to sell Opel in some countries.

[xpensive]

Volvo did pretty good on their own until the management decided to focus on trucks plus construction equipment and sell the car-division to Ford, who messed it up just like they did with Jaguar.

From what I can understand, Jaguar is much better off with Indian management than with men in suits from Dearborn.