Volvos to be exported in 2015 to US
Source:transportweekly 2014-6-27 14:59:00
Swedish carmaker Volvo said it will start exporting China-made sedans, a long wheel-based S60L to the United States and the XC90 utility crossover to Russia late next year, Reuters reports.
Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co, whose plant makes the cars, is being watched as a model for other companies that have had troubles managing major consumer brands.
Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co bought Volvo from Ford four years ago and many doubted it could turn around the loss-making company while still protecting the brand.
Others had similar troubles. Lenovo had trouble maintaining market share possessed by IBM, when it bought its personal computer business in 2005, though the company has done better since.
SAIC Motor Corp, which purchased half of South Korea's SsangYong Motor Co in 2004 but had to sell its stake after SsangYong's business slumped in 2008 downturn.
But Yale Zhang, head of Shanghai-based consulting firm Automotive Foresight, said Volvo's outlook now looked "impressive", as Chinese demand for entry-level luxury cars soared.
Geely's Chengdu plant makes the S60L while its Daqing plant in far north eastern Heilongjiang province, makes the XC90.
Domestic Volvo sales are expected to increase nearly 50 per cent year on year to more than 90,000 vehicles in 2014, said a senior executive, adding that would make China its biggest market ahead of the US.
Volvo's two plants in China should be able to achieve full capacity of about 250,000 vehicles a year by about 2018, helping to drive domestic sales, he said.