Source: http://www.n-tv.de/…/…toll-Chinese-be-article12700121.html Wednesday, 23 April 2014 “Not so Scandinavian” Volvo to be Chinese With billion-dollar investments and a new research and development center in Gothenburg, Volvo and Geely want to better match their model palettes.Do lovers of the Swedish brand have to adjust to changes in the future? Well, that’s typical Swedish: The center console in this show car At the Beijing Motor Show, it seems to float a little bit in front of the instrument carrier. Characteristic for Volvos like the V40 or V60. However, we are not in front of a Volvo. It is the Geely Cross that wears this design character. “You can’t completely deny its origin,” says Peter Horbury and smiles. They know it: Not too long ago, the British designed for Volvo, now he heads the team of the Chinese brand. “We could show the cross in Europe,” says Horbury. But it won’t happen soon. Because his assessment only applies to everything above the sheet metal, fabric and leather. Floor groups, engines, chassis, all this is still 100 percent Geely – and thus “Made for China”. The other cars on the Geely stand make it clear what this means: They also look at the exterior like exhibits from the show “Car taste in Japan of the early 2000s Yes Eight billion euros of investment But that won’t stay that way. Around eight billion euros of investment and a brand new research and development center in Gothenburg ensure this. There, at the subsidiary Volvo, teams around managers such as Horbury and Volvo product strategists Mats Fägerhag work with hundreds of Chinese and Sweden to match the model range of the Swedish-Chinese alliance – and thus also Volvo vehicles from Grun d to redefine. Same platforms, construction boxes, engine base, gearboxes, assistance systems. “We have a hell of a lot to do,” says Horbury. His work month takes place three weeks in Sweden, one in Shanghai. Company owner Li Shufu sits there – and he also made clear on the edge of “Auto China” that Geely does not have to adapt and change alone. Also the premium brand Volvo must be “not so Scandinavian anymore”, according to Li. Too much attention has so far been paid to the I In the first row, however, there is more of a staff in premium cars in China. In the back, Volvo has to create more space and comfort. Then, the brand has more success in China. China’s growth is of central importance It is important for Sweden – not only because its chief boss is sitting there. In the years to come, Volvo is to grow in the middle of the world alone. The first factory in its own right goes with the production of the SUV XC90, which is about to be replaced in the rest of the world. two more are planned. From 550,000 cars production capacity will then become 800,000. How much steam the Chinese make, shows a figure: According to a study by the Center of Automotive Management, Geely filed 2,718 patents in the past year alone. For comparison: At Daimler it was around 2,500 patents. Rightly launched then the alliance will start from 2016/17. Then the first common four-cylinders in Volvos and Geelys will provide for cost-saving million pieces In the future, the classic Swedish driver will have to adjust to this number of cylinders, no matter which model he buys. And two common ground groups for smaller and larger vehicles of both brands will also reduce the costs. Volvo’s V40 will probably make room for a successor as a crossover, limousine and Schrägheck. Again, the China demand determines the offer. At Geely, Horbury will probably adapt the crossover on the same basis, which it is currently in Beijing to s A compact SUV also wants Geely to be equipped with reduced technology from the same construction kit. And in the segment of the large saloons, Allianz is also already synchronizing its construction plans. The next S80 from Volvo will probably also offer the foot space for the fund passengers that officials of the state party want. And the German premium customer will probably get used to this shot of China in the Volvo.