Volvo AB

March 19th, 2010 Friday usually brings out TCC's optimistic streak, but two news items from Detroit and China have put a cloud over this otherwise sunny day. First, Geely says that its negotiations to buy Volvo from Ford have hit a roadblock, and second, GM has apparently failed to make any progress selling HUMMER to last-minute bidders. Before we get too dour, we should point out that the obstacles blocking the Volvo sale may be purely temporary.  

"Naturally you would go down at this moment because we're rather well filled with XC60, XC70 and XC90," Kerssemakers says. Not only is Volvo "rather well filled" in the SUV department, but the market is also filled with competition for the XC30. The BMW X1 , the Audi Q3 , and the recently divulged, Mini Countryman are just a few of the upcoming crossover's competitors. The XC30 seems like a logical response to the market's demands, but Volvo needs to make sure that after two years of talk, the Volvo XC3  

Ford should kill the deal for the strategic reasons I've ranted about in past threads …. Re: Robstar - I agree with this.  

 

A Bastrop women died Wednesday night after the vehicle she was driving crossed the center line and struck a 2008 Volvo tractor/trailer head-on. After the collision, both vehicles ran off the road way and the Volvo became engulfed in flames. The 2001 Chevrolet Trailblazer, driven by Barbara Evans of Bastrop, was traveling west on LA 2 near milepost 159.7 at the time of the crash.  

Energitinget 2010 was the twelfth Energitinget symposium, and attracted around 2,300 visitors. At the symposium, five speakers from Volvo Trucks discussed energy efficiency, logistics and fuel development. Volvo Trucks also spoke about one of its focus areas in alternative fuels: Bio-DME, which produces 95% lower CO2 emissions than diesel.  

All the vehicles ordered are Volvo FH 4x2 truck tractors with Globetrotter XL cabs and they are equipped with the Euro 5 emission version of the 500 hp D13C engine, as well as the Volvo engine brake (VEB+). They also feature the I-Shift transmission system that offers both superior gearchanging comfort and fuel economy. In addition, the vehicles are equipped with Dynafleet – Volvo's online transport information system, which Pawtrans Holding has already been using for many years.  

It's called the Ford C1 platform and Ford has classified it as their global compact car automobile platform. Closer to the Swede though, the C1 platforms finds its place in the bottom of V50 estate, the S40 sedan which the V50 is based on, the beautiful C30 hatchback and the more elegant C70 coupe/cabriolet. Apart from saving Volvo some major costs by sharing these parts, the C1 platform has also imparted its sure handling characteristics in Volvo's line-up.  

Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co, the Chinese carmaker seeking to buy Ford Motor Co's Volvo Cars, may take control of Manganese Bronze Holdings Plc, maker of the iconic London black cab, the UK-based company said. Geely's Hong Kong-listed unit may raise its stake in the company to 51 percent from 19.9 percent by buying new shares at 70 pence apiece, Mark Fryer, Manganese's finance director, said. The Coventry, England-based automaker, which would raise about 14 million pounds ($21.5 million) from the sha

Our future will be both as a manufacturer of black cabs in Coventry, although more of the parts will be coming from China, and an assembler and distributor for Geely vehicles   -Mark Fryer

 

Volvo will provide Singapore 2010 with a fleet of over 100 vehicles which include Volvo models such as the S80 sedan and XC90 7-seater sport utility vehicle (SUV). These vehicles will be used during Games Times to transport delegates between venues, as well as for broadcast operations. Volvo vehicles will also be used in the Cycling Road Race event as service support, race doctor and commissaire vehicles.