Confirmed: Geely Seals Deal to Buy Volvo Cars.

  • Thread starter Thread starter CaptainHarlock
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For some reason, even as another bloody Volvo driver myself, the entire situation is just about "meh" for me. The true Volvo ceased existing when Ford bought it and the current models look like generic bums on wheels anyway so maybe, just maybe, this could even be a turn to the better? And if it isn't... nobody can take the old bricks away from us no matter who owns the name.
 
Greycap, I'm curious to know how this is being reported and how the news is being handled by the everyone in Finland, and if you get the news from Sweden how are they treating it?

I used to drive a 740GL myself (currently drive an S70 GLT), and even though it was falling apart, I really had no complaints. I would love to own another one, but I'm not sure now.
 
Generally speaking, I can't be all that upset about it. Considering that Ford had placed the company so far back on the burner that it wasn't getting any attention whatsoever, ultimately they are in no worse and no better a situation. Ford ultimately got what they wanted with Volvo, in particular technology and other development mumbojumbo. The departure will likely be better for the Swedes, assuming that Geeley keeps to their promises.
 
That keeping to promises thing is probably the biggest hurdle. Tata's done a good job with Land Rover and ESPECIALLY Jaguar, but they're Indian, a company willing to learn - the Chinese automakers strike me as doing only what they have to and nothing else, so long as they can pump out more and more for dirt cheap.

If Geely learns from Ratan Tata's example, they can probably manage Volvo well...but the mentality from participating in the ultra-competitive "put 'em out" Chinese car market (much like the '50s US market,) could cause some problems...
 
Jim Prower
That keeping to promises thing is probably the biggest hurdle. Tata's done a good job with Land Rover and ESPECIALLY Jaguar, but they're Indian, a company willing to learn - the Chinese automakers strike me as doing only what they have to and nothing else, so long as they can pump out more and more for dirt cheap.

If Geely learns from Ratan Tata's example, they can probably manage Volvo well...but the mentality from participating in the ultra-competitive "put 'em out" Chinese car market (much like the '50s US market,) could cause some problems...
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It's also worth noting that TATA are a sensible company that have a habit of designing their own cars - and fairly good ones at that. They've been around a fair while longer than Geely too.
 
YSSMAN
Generally speaking, I can't be all that upset about it. Considering that Ford had placed the company so far back on the burner that it wasn't getting any attention whatsoever, ultimately they are in no worse and no better a situation. Ford ultimately got what they wanted with Volvo, in particular technology and other development mumbojumbo. The departure will likely be better for the Swedes, assuming that Geeley keeps to their promises.
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Think you might confuse Volvo with Saab, Saab indeed didn't get much attention form parent GM, producing some models which were almost 15 years old and no significant developments were introduced.
Ford did invest largely into Volvo allowing them to introduce many new models over the years Ford owned it, not to say they were all "worthy" to be called a Volvo or had any real Volvo DNA, but at least they were trying.
Now, with Geely being the new owners i just don't know what's going to happen, but it seems a smart move to get access to the premium market with an established brand which a Chinese brand couldn't do at this moment anyway.
Just hope the styling will remain in Swedish hands as the current cars from China have a long way to go before establishing an identity like the Japanese brands have today ( although i doubt they will ever achieve that ).
 
Greycap
For some reason, even as another bloody Volvo driver myself, the entire situation is just about "meh" for me. The true Volvo ceased existing when Ford bought it and the current models look like generic bums on wheels anyway so maybe, just maybe, this could even be a turn to the better? And if it isn't... nobody can take the old bricks away from us no matter who owns the name.
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This

True volvos went away in 1998
 
analog
Think you might confuse Volvo with Saab, Saab indeed didn't get much attention form parent GM, producing some models which were almost 15 years old and no significant developments were introduced.
Ford did invest largely into Volvo allowing them to introduce many new models over the years Ford owned it, not to say they were all "worthy" to be called a Volvo or had any real Volvo DNA, but at least they were trying.
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Trust me, as a GM guy, I wouldn't confuse the two. Strangely, they had similar situations that yielded similar results at both companies. They were purchased to be, at least in my opinion, technology and engineering powerhouses within the company. In the case of Saab, their engines and platforms eventually permeated throughout the company on into "average" GM vehicles. With Volvo, it was much the same, basic bits and pieces moving into Fords and Mazdas without much of a problem.

As you pointed out, Ford did a much better job than GM at making Volvo a part of the company. But this being something that has been discussed for the better part of a decade, it would have only hurt Volvo in the long run to stick with the Blue Oval boys.
 
Call me cynical, but I expect every last bit of Volvo production to leave EU and move to China. The cost of moving everything there will be returned within months. I'm also guessing that we will be seeing Volvo-branded plastic toasters within 3-5 years.

It seems most people here are pretty hopeful that Geely will keep to their promises though, I guess time will tell. I expect nothing more than Volvo being an "organ donor" for Geely though, the brand will probably survive as something to lend credibility to their premium line of family cars or something like that.
 
I don't know about that. If the production hasn't largely left Sweden yet to Mexico and the US and Canada with Ford running the show, I don't think Geely will mess with that too much. Especially considering that the Swedes will know how to put the cars together much more effectively.
 
Well, it doesn't take very long to teach someone how to work in a production line, and in China they don't have to bother too much with unions. Plus of course lower taxes and worker salaries.

I do hope I am wrong though, I'd love it if Geely decided to let Volvo run as much as a separate corporation as possible.
 
Lokomotiv
Well, it doesn't take very long to teach someone how to work in a production line, and in China they don't have to bother too much with unions. Plus of course lower taxes and worker salaries.

I do hope I am wrong though, I'd love it if Geely decided to let Volvo run as much as a separate corporation as possible.
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It's not a matter of teaching how to work in a production line, but whether Geely wants to invest in more expensive tooling and machines, better engineers, better practices, better materials (steel especially,)...basically, making every single aspect of their business better. and that's gonna cost capital that Geely probably doesn't want to spend in a Chinese plant at the moment, even though it'd cost less in the long run and make a more appealing product.

Like I've said, China's automobile market is like the US in the 1950s, right down to the "Produce as much as possible for as cheap as possible" mentality.
 
Hmmm, I hope Geely has good safety issues, or it might make Volvo cut safety costs...

Geely did make a fake Rolls-Royce Phantom - but there are 2 front seats and on in the back, and it's just ~2.4L engine.
 
TS
This

True volvos went away in 1998
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Before that Volvo was already partially owned by Renault, and several Volvo's from then were featuring Renault engines (ex: Volvo S40/V40 1.6)
 
I want to believe that Mr. Li is smart enough to recognize that if he tampers with Volvo he runs the risk of, in no uncertain terms, destroying the brand.
 
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