Ford agrees Volvo sale to China's Geely: report

[demoleft]

Source: afp/france24

AFP - US auto giant Ford and Zhejiang Geely Holding have struck a deal on Ford's sale of Swedish brand Volvo to the Chinese company, Swedish television reported on Wednesday, citing a union leader.

"Now it is clear. Volvo cars is sold to China's Geely," said a report on the website of local Swedish television, quoting union leader Miroslav Milurevic, the head of Volvo's metal workers in the town of Olofstroem.

Volvo's spokesman Olle Axelsson denied the report to Swedish newswire TT but said "a positive step" had been taken.

Axelsson would not give more details and said additional information would come before 1100 GMT.


Read more: http://www.france24.com/en/node/4954949

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no surprise.

[wilt the stilt]

1. So much for safety

Melomite and asbestos in the interior. Soon to be filled with carcinogens.

[jmowreader]

14. I'm seeing this a different way

They'll probably leave the Volvo the way it is--made in Europe, very safe, high quality.

Then, when the inevitable story about some Chinese safety atrocity hits the streets, whether it be melamine in the gluten or toys painted with lead paint, they can hold up a picture of an S60 and say "but...but...but...we make VOLVOS!" And because we know the industries of the world work on averages, the very high safety rating of a Volvo brings up the abysmal safety rating of the Broken Beer Bottles Playset they're selling this year.

[Diclotican]

15. wilt the stilt

wilt the stilt

Yes, as Volvo as such was more safe as an car after Ford got into the meddle og wanted to re brand it from a "every-mans car" to a luxus car. Volvo as in 2009, is no where it was before Ford was beginning to meddle with the brand.. Just because most americans tend to belief that Volvo is a luxus car, the case have never been the same in Europe where Volvo was something most "working class/middle class" could afford.. Today Volvo is far to pricey for "working class/middle class" Families with small children at least.. A brand new Volvo C70 cost maybe 400.000 in Norway - Or 70.695 US dollar and that with a rather spartan engine and standard interiour..

Diclotican

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

19. I have driven chinese cars overseas,

Not terribly different than their western counterparts of equal class.

[Romulox]

23. They'd be imported if they could pass the safety tests. QED. nt

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

24. There have been US market ready cars in China for several years

Chery Automobile would have entered the US market several years ago, then they fucked over Malcom Bricklin who was to establish their US dealer network.

[Romulox]

25. They are not imported because it is not economically feasible to do so. Again. QED.

:hi:

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

26. No, they have not been imported YET because Chery lost their infrastructure

When Chery fucked over Bricklin they blew away five years worth of ground work overnight and are now forced to start-over from scratch - the 2012 model year is the earliest they will be ready. And after fucking over Malcom Bricklin there aren't exactly other parties beating a path to their door.

[Romulox]

28. LOL. Not being able to afford a dealer infrastructure is the same thing

as not being economically feasible.

You have a way of not being able to concede even a blindingly obvious point. :hi:

PS: Chery could've bought Chrysler (complete with dealer network) for a song--Fiat got the entire dealer network without paying a dime. So your argument doesn't wash.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

30. what the hell are you talking about?

At the time Chery knifed Bricklin they were sitting on $200,000,000 in dealer franchise deposits. Chrysler is the corporate equivalent of a superfund site, a worthless company to start with that had been looted by private equity schemers - they would have been out of their fucking minds to touch it.

Chery will be here for the 2012 model year, get used to it - just for their stupid duplicity they made it much harder on themselves.

[Romulox]

31. Chrylser lost all its liabilities in BK. You really don't know of what you speak.

:shrug:

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

32. so bankruptcy wipes out a reputation for horrible quality, terrible service and poor value?

Cool, shit has changed since I was a bankruptcy trustee.

[Thor_MN]

2. Going to be hard for them to pronounce Volvo

I think there are some difficult sounds in Volvo for non-european languges.

The question at the dealer is going to be if a given car was made in Sweden or China?

[AzNick]

3. I drive an S60... probably my last Volvo

Awesome car, but I am not giving more of my 'merican money to the Chinese.

[ShortnFiery]

4. Why? For all intents and purposes, they own the USA. Look at all your stuff?

MADE IN CHINA. :(

[texastoast]

12. It's true--it is difficult to buy "stuff" not made in China

But every time I can, I will as a small effort to protest. All those little protests add up.

[AzNick]

34. Yes we can!

www.buyamerican.com
www.madeinusa.org
www.howtobuyamerican.com
www.madeinusaforever.com/

[Romulox]

5. Buy Swedish or nothing? How patrioitic.

:eyes:

[AzNick]

8. Swedish-designed, American-owned, Belgian-made

But I am tired of the Chinese taking over so aggressively.

Nothing wrong about China or the Chinese itself, but enough is enough.

[Romulox]

13. Ummm, Who-Cares?

You either support American workers or you don't. I could give a fuck who gets the profits from your foreign luxury vehicle. :hi:

[AzNick]

27. Luxury ?!?!?

Where did you see that an S60 is a luxury vehicle? It's not a Jaguar or a Mercedes, or even a high-end BMW.

I paid it $7500 used 2 years ago, by the way.

They're very reliable and Volvo owners take care of their cars, which is why they are the best used vehicles.

For the same price as a used Toyota, you get twice the car.

I also got hit twice in the rear, same shock, once in a Toyota, once in the Volvo. The Toyota was trashed, the Volvo spent 10 days in the body shop and came out looking like new.

I think Toyotas are the luxury, in this case.

[Romulox]

29. Sounds like you're proud of not support American workers.

Jesus, the biggest sin is almost always a lack of self-awareness/shame.

And a used luxury car is still a luxury car. :hi:

[AzNick]

33. I also own a Chevrolet Avalanche for my business and Ford owns Volvo

And I have no issue doing business with countries who play fair and who buy American products as well.

China is a communist country which jails dissenters and let's not talk about Tibet.

[WriteDown]

7. Let me guess, you're a big IKEA fan?

:shrug:

[AzNick]

9. No, I hate IKEA. Chinese made plastic junk. What's not to hate?

IKEA sucks. They used to make their stuff in Europe, good wages to good people, all union. Now it's made by slaves in China.

Believe or not, IKEA used to be better quality. Not super duper, nothing you would pass along generations but still could last a couple decades. Now it's just pure utter junk that will self destroy in 1 year maximum.

[Tesha]

16. That would explain why their kitchen furniture carries a 25 year warranty.

http://www.ikea.com/ms/en_US/customer_service/warranty.html

AKURUM/RATIONELL Kitchen Series
25 year warranty

What is covered?
This limited warranty is valid from the date of purchase and covers defects in material and workmanship in the following parts of the AKURUM kitchen system:
•Cabinet Frames •INTEGRAL hinges •Plinths •Legs •RATIONELL interior fittings including: •Fully extending drawers •Drawer fronts •Drawer dampers •Tempered glass and melamine shelves •Wire baskets •Bottom trays for cabinets •Drawers under oven •Floor-level drawers •Dish drainers for wall cabinets •Cover Panels •Deco strips/moldings •Countertops that are at least 3.8cm thick •Sinks
PERFEKT kitchen pieces including: •End units •Wine shelf •Plate shelf •Shelf w/2 drawers. This limited warranty applies to domestic use only.

What is not covered?
Knobs, Handles, countertops that are less than 3.8cm thick, appliances and faucets. Custom countertops are covered under a separate warranty (see store for details). Click General Warranty Conditions below for more information.

How long does the coverage last?
This limited warranty is valid for 25 years from the date of purchase by the original purchaser.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

20. Ikea manufactuers all over world, including in the United States

Ikea opened their first US factory in Virginia in 2008, another two factories are to follow - one in Arizona and one somewhere along the West Coast, possibly Portland or Vancouver Washington.

[Romulox]

21. That's because pressboard is HEAVY; nobody who shops at Ikea gives a fuck where the stuff is made.

:silly: :hi:

[WriteDown]

6. The ultimate YUPPIE car is going to be owned by the Chinese?

Sad, Volvo wasn't always that way.

[texastoast]

10. I guess I'll continue to buy the old Volvos

They are such good tanks, low maintenance cars (but not no maintenance). I just don't know how I feel about this anymore than I did about Ford stepping in.

[AzNick]

11. True, that. Last forever.

I may actually keep my S60 100,000 more miles.

[Lars77]

18. 240!

Best ones are the 240s. We have extremely strict periodic safety checks in Norway, but the 240 is so safe that you can have it approved with a small block Chevy V8 (fits right in) by only upgrading to ventilated break discs in the front.

[Lars77]

17. The swedes are traumatized

with Saab on the verge of folding (tabloids did an obituary on the 18th) and now Volvo going to China.

Experts over here say that the Chinese takeover is significant not because they will move production of existing Volvo models to China, they will probably leave that in Europe. But:

1. The amount of modern technology they are getting is a quantum leap for them, and as such this takeover is a bargain.

2. After they have upgraded their Chinese models to meet our safety standards, Europe and possibly the US will be flooded with small Chinese cars rebadged as Volvo's, in much the same way as rebadged Daewoos are sold as Chevy's.

[Romulox]

22. The American media frets more about Trollhatten than Detroit too...

Same same. :shrug: