 | |
 Headquarters inGothenburg, Sweden | |
Native name | Volvo Personvagnar AB |
|---|---|
| Company type | Public |
| Nasdaq Stockholm: VOLCAR B | |
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | 1927; 98 years ago (1927) |
| Headquarters | Gothenburg,Sweden |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | |
| Products | Luxury cars |
Production output |  709,000 vehicles (2023) |
| Revenue | 399.343 billionkr (2023) |
 19.939 billion kr (2023) | |
| 14.066 billion kr (2023) | |
| Total assets | 356.362 billion kr (2023) |
| Total equity | 130.485 billion kr (2023) |
Number of employees | 45,000 (2023) |
| Parent | Geely Holding (78.7%) |
| Subsidiaries |
|
| Website | volvocars.com |
| Footnotes / references [1] | |
Volvo Car AB,[2] trading asVolvo Cars (Swedish:Volvo personvagnar, styledVOLVO in the company's logo), is aSwedish multinational manufacturer ofluxury vehicles. Volvo is headquartered inTorslanda,Gothenburg. The company manufacturesSUVs,station wagons, andsedans. The company's main marketing revolves aroundsafety and its Swedish heritage and design.
Volvo Cars has been separate from its former parent conglomerate and producer ofheavy trucks,buses, andconstruction equipment (among others)AB Volvo since 1999 when AB Volvo sold its automobile division Volvo Cars toFord Motor Company forUS$6.47 billion.[3] On 28 March 2010, Ford sold Volvo Cars at a loss toGeely Holding for $1.8 billion; the deal closed in August 2010.[4][5] Volvo Cars was publicly listed on theNasdaq Stockholm stock exchange in 2021, though Geely Holding still retains majority ownership. Volvo Cars and AB Volvo share the Volvo logo, and cooperate in running theVolvo Museum.In March 2021, Volvo Cars announced that it would be a fully electric brand by 2030, with vehicles sold exclusively online.[6][7] In June 2021, Volvo Cars and Swedish battery developer and manufacturerNorthvolt announced their intention to establish a 50/50 joint venture consisting of a battery gigafactory and R&D (research and development) center.[8] In December 2021, it was revealed the battery R&D center would be located in Gothenburg.[9] In February 2022, Gothenburg was also chosen as the location for the battery gigafactory.[10]During 2021 and 2022, Volvo Cars transferred its hybrid engine research and production capabilities inSkövde andZhangjiakou toAurobay, in a joint venture with Geely.[11] In 2023, Volvo removed conventional engines as an option, meaningmild hybrids are the base engine option in the US.[12]
Volvo Cars owns 18% ofPolestar[13][14] and 50% of NOVO Energy (electric vehicle batteries), 100% of Zenseact (AD and ADAS software), and 100% of HaleyTek (Android-basedinfotainment systems).[15] As of 2022, Volvo Cars has production plants in Torslanda in Sweden,Ridgeville, South Carolina in the United States,Ghent in Belgium, andDaqing in China.[16]
Volvo was founded upon the concept ofsafety in 1927, inGothenburg, Sweden:
Cars are driven by people. The guiding principle behind everything we make at Volvo, therefore, is and must remain, safety.
— Assar Gabrielsson and Gustav Larson, 1927[17]
The company was created as a subsidiary toSKF.Assar Gabrielsson was appointedmanaging director andGustav Larsontechnical manager.
ThetrademarkVolvo (which isLatin for 'I roll') was first registered by SKF on 11 May 1915 with the intention to use it for a special series of ball bearing for the American market but it was never used for this purpose (however in the application for the trademark, it was also designated for the purpose ofautomobiles). The SKF trademark as it looks today was used instead for all SKF products. Some pre-series of Volvo-bearings stamped with the brand name 'Volvo' were manufactured but never released to the market, and it was not until 1927 that the trademark was used again, now as a trademark and company name for an automobile.
The first Volvo car left the assembly line on 14 April 1927, and was called theVolvo ÖV 4. After this the young company produced closed top and cabriolet vehicles, which were designed to hold strong in the Swedish climate and terrain. In the registration application for the Volvo logotype in 1927, they simply made a copy of the entire radiator for the ÖV 4, viewed from the front. The round logo with the arrow pointing to the right (♂) is theGreek alchemical symbol for iron.
Presented in 1944, the Volvo PV444 passenger car only entered production in 1947. It was the smallest Volvo yet, but became Volvo's most produced car, and spearheaded Volvo's move into the profitable American market. The first Volvos arrived in the United States in 1955, after the hardware wholesaler Leo Hirsh began distributing cars in California. Later, Texas was added, and in 1956, Volvo themselves began importing cars to the US. North America has consistently provided Volvo with their main outlet since.[18]
In 1963, Volvo opened theVolvo Halifax Assembly plant, the first assembly plant in the company's history outside of Sweden, inHalifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.[19] In 1964, Volvo opened itsTorslanda plant in Sweden, which currently is one of its largest production sites (chiefly large cars and SUVs).[20] Then in 1965, theGhent, Belgiumplant was opened, which is the company's second largest production site.[21] This was also Volvo's first location producing cars within theEuropean Economic Community.[19] In 1989, theUddevalla plant in Sweden was opened, which was jointly operated by Volvo Car Group andPininfarina Sverige AB from 2005 to 2013.[22]
_01.jpg)
In the early 1970s, Volvo acquired the passenger car division of the Dutch companyDAF, and marketed their small cars as Volvos before releasing the Dutch-builtVolvo 340, which went on to be a big seller in theUK market in the 1980s. In 1986 Volvo sold 113,267 cars in the US marking a record year for the company. The appearance of Japanese brands likeAcura andLexus and the growing popularity ofSubaru station wagons in subsequent years meant the loss of a significant market share for Volvo, one which they have never regained.[18]
Volvo's long-time CEOPehr G. Gyllenhammar saw early on that Volvo was too small to survive in the future, and attempted several times to merge with other manufacturers. Volvo nearly merged with Saab in the late seventies, while in 1978 an aborted affair would have seen the Norwegian state take over 40 percent of the company. In return, Volvo would receive 200 millionSEK and a ten percent concession in theOseberg oil field. Major institutional actors in Sweden opposed the deal and blocked it.[23] A deal to merge with Renault was blocked in 1993, mainly opposed by a Swedish stockholders' association.[24]
A collection of Volvo's most important historical vehicles are now housed in the Volvo Museum, which opened in a permanent location in Arendal atHisingen on 30 May 1995.[25] For several years, the collection had been housed at the Blue Hangar, at the then closedTorslanda Airport.[25]
In 1999, Volvo Group decided to sell its automobile manufacturing business in order to concentrate on commercial vehicles, and to buy a 5% stake in Japanese automakerMitsubishi Motors (with which Volvo Group along with theDutch government had participated in a joint venture at the formerDAF plant inBorn,Netherlands since 1991). Ford saw advantages in acquiring a profitable prestige mid-size European automobile manufacturer, well renowned for its safety aspects, as an addition to its Premier Automotive Group. The buyout of Volvo Cars was announced on 28 January 1999,[26] and in the following year the acquisition was completed at a price of US$6.45 billion. As a result of thedivestiture, the Volvo trademark was used by two separate companies:
Volvo Group completed its 5% deal with Mitsubishi in November 1999, but sold its stake back toMitsubishi Heavy Industries in March 2001.[27][28]
Volvo Car Group was part of Ford Motor Company'sPremier Automotive Group (PAG), along withJaguar,Aston Martin andLand Rover. While part of the PAG, the company significantly expanded its range of vehicles. Ford, in turn, attempted with little market success to leverage synergies from Volvo, namely by sharing a re-engineered platform and many safety features from theVolvo S80 with theFord Five Hundred (et al.).
After Ford soldJaguar Land Rover toTata Motors of India in 2008, the company initially decided to keep Volvo Cars despite mounting losses and major economic downturns. Ford decided to restructure plans for Volvo Cars, pushing it further upmarket, alongside the lower end of Mercedes and BMW sedans, wagons, and SUV crossovers. The outcome was the luxurious second generationVolvo S80 and the new small premium crossoverVolvo XC60.
When the global economic crisis of 2008 threatened US automakers, Swedish authorities became concerned about the fate of Volvo, should Ford file for bankruptcy. These concerns mounted after repeated mass layoffs at Volvo. In December 2008, Ford announced that it was considering selling Volvo Cars. Initially, a sale price of US$6 billion was reported.[29] Ford said it was also looking into the possibility of spinning off Volvo as an independent company. The Swedish government was asked to look into a possible state ownership of Volvo, or a financial bailout for Volvo Cars andSAAB of GM. Former parent AB Volvo agreed to help Volvo cut costs through partnerships, and suggested taking part in a shared ownership of Volvo Cars, as part of a larger consortium. Other rumored candidates to purchase Volvo Cars included BMW AG of Germany, Investor AB of Sweden, Chinese investors, and Russian investors.
Although it was rumoured that Volkswagen would buy Volvo Cars, and despite initial denials, the company Geely Holding Group was ultimately selected to take over the Swedish automaker.[30] Geely Holding allegedly bid about US$1.5 billion to take over Volvo, with Goldman Sachs investing HK$2.59 billion (US$334 million) in the holding company.[31][32][33]
_01.jpg)
Ford Motor Company offered Volvo Cars for sale in December 2008, after suffering losses that year.[34] On 28 October 2009, Ford confirmed that, after considering several offers, the preferred buyer of Volvo Cars was Geely Holding Group, the parent of motor manufacturerGeely Automobile.[35][36] On 23 December 2009, Ford confirmed the terms of the sale to Geely had been settled. A definitive agreement was signed on 28 March 2010, forUS$1.8 billion. TheEuropean Commission and China'sMinistry of Commerce approved the deal on 6 and 29 July 2010, respectively. The deal closed on 2 August 2010 with Geely paying $1.3 billion cash and a $200 million note. Further payments are expected with a later price "true-up".[37][38] It is the largest overseas acquisition by a Chinese automaker.[39]
Stefan Jacoby, formerly chief executive ofVolkswagen of America, became Volvo Car Group's president and chief executive on 16 August 2010, replacing Stephen Odell, who became chief executive ofFord Europe.Li Shufu became Volvo Cars' chairman of the board. His board members include vice-chairmanHans-Olov Olsson, a former president and chief executive of Volvo Cars, andHåkan Samuelsson, formerly chief executive ofMAN.[40]
Under Geely ownership, Volvo has refocused its product lineup. The manufacturer has developed a new line of 3- and 4-cylinder diesel and petrol engines while eliminating larger engines. It has also developed a newvehicle platform, theScalable Product Architecture (SPA), and re-introduced an expanded -90 series of models, including theS90 sedan andVolvo V90 wagon in addition to a redesignedXC90 SUV.[41]
In 2015, Volvo sold more than half a million cars for the first time in its 89-year history.Volvo reported strong sales from all three core global regions. Sales in Europe rose 10% in 2015 to 269k, representing over 50% of total global volume. Volvo's revival in the US gained momentum, with sales up 24% in 2015, while China was flat amid a challenging sales environment, but sales were up 11% in the fourth quarter.[42]
In July 2017, the automaker announced that beginning in 2019, all of its new models will include anelectric motor in their powertrain. Implementation of the announcement could mean Volvo becoming the first manufacturer to end production ofinternal combustion-only vehicles, with all vehicleshybrid orelectric powered. Between 2019 and 2021, Volvo plans to launch three electric cars under the Volvo brand and two more under thePolestar performance brand.[43]
Volvo is one of the proponents of autonomous vehicles. On 20 November 2017,Uber announced that it planned to buy up to 24,000 Volvo cars designed to accept autonomous technology between 2019 and 2021. This non-binding intent includes a plan for Uber Advanced Technologies Group to design and build the self-driving system in the XC90 SUV.[44] In 2016, the companies announced that they planned to collaborate on the design and financing of cars with self-driving systems. Such vehicles require a different type of steering and braking mechanism, as well as sensors. The CEO of Volvo Cars, Håkan Samuelsson, made this comment in an interview: "We get support developing this car ... It’s also a big commercial deal."[45]
Also in 2017, Volvo announced avehicle subscription offering calledCare by Volvo, which offers theVolvo XC40 for a monthly payment that includes insurance and maintenance. Care by Volvo is offered in several European markets, such as Germany, the UK and Italy, as well as in the U.S.[46]
In February 2020, Volvo and Geely announced that they had started formal discussions about a merger of business. Geely had owned 100% of Volvo, but Volvo Cars had largely been allowed autonomy with its resources.[47] These merger talks were later halted, and 18% of Volvo Cars shares were listed on theNasdaq Stockholm stock exchange in October 2021.[48]
In early 2021 the company announced plans to completely stop selling fossil fuel-based cars by 2030, switching to electric-powered cars. The plan includes phasing out fossil-fuel-only cars by 2025, manufacturing only electric cars or hybrids.[49]
In 2021, Volvo Cars set up ajoint venture with Geely for its hybrid engine operations.[50] The new business, Aurobay will develop and marketpowertrain solutions, and as of 2022, includes Volvo Cars' engine plants inSkövde andZhangjiakou, together with itspowertrain research and development operations inGothenburg.[51]
In June 2023, Ukraine blacklisted Geely due to its refusal to leave the Russian market. In this regard, the Swedish authorities began to discuss the possibility of a boycott of Volvo Cars. The discussion was initiated by the Ministry of Defense of Sweden.[52]
In November 2023, Volvo Cars announced the launch of an Energy Solutions business, beginning with a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) pilot programme in Gothenburg along with local power utility Goteborg Energi.[53]
In 2024, Volvo Cars scrapped its goal of becoming fully electric by 2030, adjusting its strategy due to industry challenges.[54]
In November 2024, Volvo Cars announced the sale of its 30% stake inLynk & Co toZeekr, at a price of RMB 5.4 billion.[55]
On March 30, 2025, Volvo Cars announced the reappointment of Samuelsson as CEO starting from 1 April, succeeding Jim Rowan who had been CEO since January 2022. Volvo said Samuelsson would be serving a two-year term while the group prepares to appoint a long-term successor.[56]
Volvo cars have long been marketed as safe and the company has stressed their historic reputation for solidity and reliability in marketing campaigns. Volvo uses high-tech safety systems as standard equipment in new vehicles.[citation needed] Prior to strong government safety regulation Volvo had been at the forefront of safety engineering.[57]
In 1944,laminated glass was introduced in thePV model.[58] AfterVattenfall engineers presented their pioneering work to Volvo in the 1950s,[59] Volvo engineerNils Bohlin invented and patented the modernthree-point safety belt, which became standard on all Volvo cars in 1959,[60] and then made this design patent open in the interest of safety and made it available to other car manufacturers for free.[61][62] Additionally, Volvo developed the first rear-facing child seat in 1964[58] and introduced its own booster seat in 1978.[58]
In 1991, the 960 introduced the first three-point seat belt for the middle of the rear seat and a child safety cushion integrated in the middle armrest.[58] Also in 1991, it introduced theSide Impact Protection System (SIPS) on the700,940/960 and850 models, which channels the force of a side impact away from the doors and into the safety cage.[63]
In 1994,[64] to add to its SIPS, Volvo was the first to introduce side airbags and installed them as standard equipment in all models from 1995. At the start of the 1995 model year, side impact protection airbags were standard on high trim-level Volvo 850s, and optional on other 850s. By the middle of the production year, they were standard on all 850s. In model year 1995, SIPS airbags became standard on all Volvo models.[64]
In 1995, the Volvo 745 was recalled as the front seatbelt mounts could break in a collision.[65][66]
In 1998, Volvo installed a head-protecting airbag,[67] which was made standard in all new models as well as some existing models.[64] The IC head-protecting airbag was not available on the 1997 C70 since the initial design deployed the airbag from the roof, and the C70, being a convertible, could not accommodate such an airbag. A later version of the C70 featured a head-protecting airbag deploying upwards from the door, avoiding this problem. It has been stated by many testing authorities that side head protecting curtain airbags can reduce the risk of death in a side impact by up to 40% and brain injury by up to 55%, as well as protect occupants during a rollover.[68] In 1998, Volvo introduced its Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS), a safety device to prevent injury to front seat users during collisions.[58]
In 2002, Volvo pioneered the development of a virtualcrash test dummy representing a midsized pregnant female. It was named Linda and was modeled in her 36th week of pregnancy to analyze the effects of high-speed impact on the womb, placenta, and fetus.[69] Collaborating withChalmers University of Technology, they also crafted a computer model of an average-sized female to advance their Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS).[70]
In 2004, Volvo introduced theBlind Spot Information System (BLIS), which detects vehicles entering the vehicle's blind spot with a side-view-mirror-mounted camera, and alerts the driver with a light. That year also saw Volvos sold in all markets equipped with side-marker lights and daytime running lights. Also, since 2004 all Volvo models except for the coupes (C70 andC30[71]) are available with an all-wheel drive system developed byHaldex Traction of Sweden.[72]
In 2005, Volvo presented the second generation ofVolvo C70, which came with extra stiff door-mounted inflatable side curtains (the first of its kind in a convertible) dubbed 'DMIC'.[73][74][75]
Volvo's safety systems remained standard on all Volvo vehicles while under ownership of Ford Motor Company. Volvo had patented many of its safety innovations, includingSIPS,WHIPS,ROPS,DSTC, and body structures. Some of these systems were fitted to other Ford andPremier Automotive Group vehicles in forms similar to those of Volvo systems.[76][77][78][79]
A 2005Folksam report[80] put the 740/940 (from 1982 on) in the 15% better than average category for safety based on real-life accidents, coming second to the most-recommended 30% better than average category.
In 2005, when the American non-profit, non-governmentalInsurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) released its first annual "Top Safety Picks" vehicles list, none of Volvo's offered vehicles in the US were included on the list.[81]According to Russ Rader, a spokesman for IIHS, Volvo lagged behind its competitors.[82] Dan Johnston, a Volvo spokesman, denied that the company's vehicles were any less safe than the institute's top-rated vehicles, adding that
It's just a philosophy on safety that is different from building cars to pass these kinds of tests.[82]
In 2006, Volvo's Personal Car Communicator (PCC) remote control was launched as an optional feature with the all-newVolvo S80. Before a driver enters their car, they can review the security level and know whether they had set the alarm and if the car is locked.[83][84] Additionally, a heartbeat sensor warns if someone is hiding inside the car.[83] The S80 was also the first Volvo model to featureadaptive cruise control (ACC) with Collision Warning and Brake Support (CWBS).[85]
In 2008, a French court found Volvo partially responsible for causing the death of two children and serious injuries of another inWasselonne on 17 June 1999, when the brakes of a 1996Volvo 850 failed. The court subjected Volvo to a €200,000 fine.[57][86][87][88]
According to theInsurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), Volvo's S80 became one of the 2009 Top Safety Picks Award winners. The previous versions of the S40 and S60 models (2005–09 models with standard side airbags) failed to attain the highest rating in their side impact test.[89][90] However, according to the IIHS, in recent years Volvo cars have still managed to maintain their high class safety ratings as seen in test results.[91] The Volvo XC90, S80, C70, XC60, S60 and C30 are all rated Top Safety Picks in these crash tests.[92][93][94][95][96][97] The 2014 models of the XC60, XC90, S60 and S80 have even received the Top Safety Pick+ rating.[98][99] All Volvos tested in the small overlap test have received a 'good' rating.[100]
Volvo has also scored high inEuro NCAP tests. Since 2009, all the Volvo models that Euro NCAP have tested have received five-star safety ratings: Volvo C30, V40, V60, V60 plug-in hybrid, XC60 and V70.[101] The second generation Volvo V40 got the best test result of any car model ever tested by Euro NCAP at the time.[102] As well the redesigned XC60 received the highest adult occupant score (98%) in 2017.[103]
In the United States, Volvo paid $19.6 million in fines for missing itsCorporate Average Fuel Economy targets for the 2010–2014 model years.[104] In July 2017, Volvo announced thatnew models launched from 2019 onward would befully electric orhybrid-electric, heralding the end of production of nearly a century of Volvo vehicles powered solely by theinternal combustion engine. Volvo, however, will continue to produce non-electric, non-hybrid cars from models introduced before that year but will discontinue them once the non-hybrid, non-electric cars receive afacelift or complete redesign.[105] In 2019, Volvo announced that it plans to produce only electrified cars from the year 2040 onwards.[106]
In 2019, Volvo introduced the E.V.A. (Equal Vehicles for All) Initiative, which aims to share the results of research and safety development since 1970.[107] This initiative's goal is to contribute to safer cars for everyone - regardless of gender and size. Due to the traditional use of male crash test dummies in safety tests, women face a higher risk of injury in car accidents.[108] Volvo's Accident Research Team, however, has been collecting real-world collision data since the 1970s, ensuring representation for both men and women.
This list provides dates of when Volvo incorporated these technologies into its cars, and does not necessarily represent Volvo innovations.
Starting with the 140 series in 1966, Volvo used a tri-digit system for their cars. The first number was the series, the second number the number of cylinders and the third number the number of doors; so a 164 was a 1-series with a six-cylinder engine and four doors. However, there were exceptions to this rule – the 780 for example, came with turbocharged I4 and naturally aspirated V6petrol engines and I6 diesel engines, but never an eight-cylinder, as the "eight" would suggest. Similarly, the 760 often was equipped with a turbocharged I4 engine, and the Volvo 360 only had four cylinders. Some 240GLT had a V6 engine. The company dropped the meaning of the final digit for later cars like the 740, but the digit continued to identify cars underhood on the identification plate.
_01.jpg)
Today, the company uses a system of letters denoting body style followed by the series number. "S" stands for "sedan", "C" stands for "coupé" or "convertible" (including three-doorhatchback AKA "shooting brake") and "V" stands for "versatile" (5-doorhatchback andstation wagon). A V50 is an estate (also under "V") that is smaller than the V70. "XC" stands for "cross country", which was originally added to a more rugged version of the V70 model (the V70XC), and indicatesall wheel drive paired with a raised suspension to give the model an SUV look. Volvo would later change the name to the XC70, keeping its car naming consistent with the XC90.
Originally, Volvo had planned to use a different naming scheme. S and C were to be the same as they are now, but "F", standing for "flexibility", was to be used on station wagons. When Volvo introduced the first generation S40 and V40 in 1995, they were announced as the S4 and F4. However,Audi complained that it had inherent rights to the S4 name, since it names its sporty vehicles "S", and the yet to be introduced sport version of theAudi A4 would have the S4 name. Volvo agreed to add a second digit, so the vehicles became the S40 and F40. However, that led to another complaint fromFerrari, who used theFerrari F40 name on their legendary sports car. This led to Volvo switching the "F" to "V", for versatile.[113][114][115]
.jpg)
.jpg)
In 2019, Volvo announced that it plans to produce only fully electrified cars from the year 2040 onwards. From 2040, it plans to no longer produce internal combustion engine powered vehicles.[106] In March 2021, Volvo doubled down on these plans and committed to being an electric-only car maker by 2030.[117]
In 2005, Volvo introduced to the Swedish market the company's firstE85 flexifuel models. Volvo introduced itsS40 andV50 with flexible-fuel engines, joined in late 2006 by the then newC30. All Volvo models were initially restricted to the Swedish market, until 2007, when these three models were launched in eight new European markets.[118] In 2008, Volvo launched theV70 with a 2.5-litre turbocharged flexifuel engine.[119]
The Volvo ReCharge is aplug-in hybridconcept car with an all-electric range (AER) of 60 miles (97 km). It was officially unveiled at the 2007Frankfurt Auto Show.[120]
On 1 June 2009,Volvo announced the launching ofseries productiondiesel-electric plug-in hybrids by 2012.[121][122][123] The company plans to sell aseries hybrid with the goal of achieving emissions of less than 50 grams ofCO2 per kilometer.[122][123] As part of ajoint venture withVattenfall, a Swedish energy company, Volvo converted two Volvo V70s toplug-in hybrid demonstration vehicles that have been in field testing inGöteborg, Sweden since December 2009.[124] Vattenfall offered customers participating in this trial a supply ofrenewable electricity generated fromwind power orhydropower.[125] Among other challenges, the demonstration tests the car'sall-electric range at low temperatures, which has been a disadvantage of plug-in vehicles.[123][124][125]
The Volvo C30 DRIVe Electricconcept car was exhibited at the2010 Paris Motor Show and Volvo announced that field testing will begin in 2011, in the US, Europe, and China.[126] The C30 DRIVeelectric car has alithium-ion battery, a top speed of 130 km/h (81 mph), and anall-electric range of up to 150 kilometres (93 mi). Field testing began in 2010 with 10 units inGöteborg, Sweden.[127]
The Volvo ECC (Environmental Concept Car) was exhibited at the 1992Paris Motor Show. The vehicles range on batteries alone was 90 miles (140 km), and when combined with a full tank of fuel for the turbine, about 415 miles (668 km).
Starting in the 2015 model year (Volvo S60,V60, andXC60), Volvo introduced a line offorced-induction four-cylinder engines, dubbed "Drive-E",[128] to increase the efficiency of their models without sacrificing performance. These engines also debuted throughout the lineup that year, and also appeared in the second-generationVolvo XC90. Hybridized versions of these engines would, in theory, have enough power to matcheight-cylinder engines.
Sweden
Belgium
China
Malaysia
India
United States
Sweden
Volvo uses in-line, or straightengines in their production vehicles. Volvo is also known for the application of thein-line 5-cylinder engine to its vehicle line up since its introduction in 1991 in theVolvo 850.
Volvo automatic transmissions in the past were made by theZF Friedrichshafen company, but now the transmissions are co-developed withAisin of Japan.Geartronic is Volvo Cars' name for itsmanumatic transmission.
 | This sectionneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.(October 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
.jpg)
In 1959, Volvo set up its own motorsport department. This led to Volvo enjoying worldwide success in the motorsport arena throughout the early 1960s. In 1961, Gran Premio de Argentina Gunnar Andersson was appointed Volvo's competition department manager, signing a number of drivers, including Carl-Magnus Skogh, Tom Trana and Ewy Rosqvist, though he himself still continued to compete in rallies. In 1964, Volvo made heavy investments in theSafari Rally, entering four Volvo PV544s in the 1964 competition. A PV544, borrowed from Volvo and then modified[133] and driven by Joginder and Jaswant Singh won the Safari Rally in 1965.[134]
Volvo entered theEuropean Touring Car Championship with the Volvo 240 Turbo in the 1980s. In the 1984European Touring Car Championship, the Swedish team Sportpromotion won the EG Trophy atZolder circuit, followed by placing second in theMugello. In 1985, Volvo signed Swiss engine guru Ruedi Eggenberger to run its works team throughEggenberger Motorsport. Team driversGianfranco Brancatelli and Thomas Lindström led the 240T to victory in the 1985 ETCC.
Also in 1985, New ZealanderMark Petch had purchased a 240T from the Magnum team in Sweden (and claimed to run the only privateer Volvo 240T outside of Europe), and driversRobbie Francevic and Michel Delcourt had also won theWellington 500 street race in New Zealand in January. Francevic went on to finish 5th in the1985 Australian Touring Car Championship, taking wins atSymmons Plains andOran Park. The factory-supported Petch team also participated in the1985 Bathurst 1000. Thomas Lindström later joined Francevic to win the 1986 Wellington 500. The Petch team become theVolvo Dealer Team in 1986, and expanded to two cars, with the other being forJohn Bowe, who had driven the Volvo with Francevic at the 1985 Bathurst 1000.
Volvo contracted Belgian based team RAS Sport to be its works team in the ETCC in 1986, following Eggenberger moving to raceFord Sierra's. This team included defending champion Lindström, joined by ex-Formula One andGrand Prix motorcycle racerJohnny Cecotto, as well as Ulf Granberg andAnders Olofsson. The team took wins at wins at Hockenheim,Anderstorp,Brno,Österreichring and Zolder, though the wins at Anderstorp and the Österreichring were disqualified due to the use of illegal fuel.
The 240T also entered theGuia Race, part of theMacau Grand Prix in 1985, 1986 and 1987, winning in both 1985 and 1986.
Volvo also saw success in theDeutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft (German Touring Car Championship), with a 240 Turbo driven by Per Stureson winning the 1985 DTM.
Volvo also entered theBritish Touring Car Championship in the 1990s withTom Walkinshaw Racing. This partnership was responsible for the controversial 850 Estate racing cars, driven byRickard Rydell andJan Lammers and with a best qualifying placing of third and a best race finish of fifth, which was only rendered uncompetitive when the FIA allowed the use of aerodynamic aids in 1995. TWR then built and ran the works 850 Saloon, with six wins in 1995, and five wins in 1996, and a S40, with one win in 1997 in the BTCC, as well as Volvo placing third in the Manufacturers Championship, both in 1995 and 1996. In 1998, TWR Volvo won the British Touring Car Championship with Rickard Rydell driving the S40R.
Volvo also competed in the Super Touring category with the 850 across Europe and in Australia.Australian race car driverPeter Brock drove an 850 T5 with Tony Scott in the1994 James Hardie 12 Hour production car race at Bathurst, finishing 25th. He also drove an 850 saloon in the1996 Australian Super Touring Championship, placing sixth in the Drivers’ Championship.
Volvo regularly entered the S60 in theSwedish Touring Car Championship, where it finished 2nd in the drivers' championship twice and wonthe manufacturers' title once. The S60 continued to be raced after the formation of theScandinavian Touring Car Championship, a merger of the Swedish andDanish touring car championships.Thed Björk won three consecutive titles from 2013 to 2015, driving an S60 prepared byPolestar Racing.
From 2002 to 2007, there was an S60 one-make racing series as a support series to the Swedish Touring Car Championship known as the S60 Challenge Cup, using 26 factory-modified S60s.
An S60 was driven byRobert Dahlgren in the Swedish round of the2007 World Touring Car Championship.
The first generation S60 made its competitive debut in 2006, racing in theSpeed World Challenge GT class. The second-generation model was introduced for the2009 season. In 2010, its programme was expanded to include theSCAA Pro Racing World Challenge, where it won both the drivers' and manufacturers' championships in the GT class. The programme was expanded again in 2011, to include thePirelli World Challenge.[135]
In 2008, Volvo entered theSwedish Touring Car Championship with aC30 powered by bioethanol E85 fuel.Robert Dahlgren andTommy Rustad were the drivers, finishing 5th and 10th respectively in the championship. Volvo had also signalled their intentions to enter the 2009British Touring Car Championship with the same car.[136]
Volvo entered theV8 Supercars Championship with twoS60s in2014 withGarry Rogers Motorsport, and were immediately competitive.[137] Following ten pole positions and four race wins,Scott McLaughlin finished fifth in the championship and was awarded theBarry Sheene Medal.[138]
The nameVolvo isLatin for "I roll".
The Volvo symbol is an ancient chemistry sign foriron. The iron sign is used to symbolize the strength of iron used in the car as Sweden is known for its quality iron. The diagonal line (a strip of metal) across the grille came about to hold the actual symbol, a circle with an arrow, in front of the radiator.[139]
Volvo has, since the 1950s, had special international sales programs for customers assigned abroad, for example Diplomat Sales, Military Sales and Expat Sales.
The Volvotrademark is now jointly owned (50/50) by Volvo Group and Volvo Car Group.[140] One of the main promotional activities for the brand is the sailing RaceVolvo Ocean Race, formerly known as theWhitbread Around the World Race. There is also aVolvo Baltic Race andVolvo Pacific Race, and Volvo likes to encourage its image by sponsoring golf tournaments all over the world including major championship events called theVolvo Masters andVolvo China Open.
Volvo sponsored theVolvo Ocean Race, the world's leading round-the-world yacht race for the first time in 2001–02. The next edition was to take place between 2011 and 2012. Volvo has also had a long-standing commitment to theInternational Sailing Federation (ISAF) and is involved in the Volvo/ISAF World Youth Sailing Championships since 1997.
In 2011, Volvo Cars is the main sponsor of the winter sports and music festivalSnowbombing in Austria.
In 2012, Volvo signedNBA starJeremy Lin to an endorsement agreement for two years to participate in Volvo's corporate and marketing activities as a "brand ambassador" for Volvo Car Corp.[141]
In 2015, Volvo signed a deal withChennaiyin FC, a football franchise team of theIndian Super League as a side shirt sponsor.
In May 2009,Volvo – The Game was released. It was developed by Simbin Studios (nowSector3 Studios).[142]
In 1990, Volvo Cars filed a lawsuit against Hong Kong-based Club Volvonight club for infringement inHong Kong High Court. The lawsuit ended with settlement where the night club paid 1 dollar to Volvo Cars. Since then, Club Volvo had been renamed to Club Borubo (the Japanese pronunciation of "Volvo"), and then Club Bboss (reference to Big Boss).[143][144][145]
Volvo Car currently holds around 48% in Polestar. The share transfer will have to be approved by Volvo Car shareholders at the company's annual general meeting next month. Geely owns 79.5% in Volvo Car, while Li Shufu holds a roughly 39% stake in Polestar.
Anti-AdBlock for Archive results in 404. Stop it loading at 50% to read article
The C30 was built front-wheel drive only, but it can be found in manual or automatic form. There's also a decent range of engines to choose from.
| Parent | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current |
| ||||||
| Discontinued models | |||||||
| Upcoming models | |||||||
| Concepts |
| ||||||
| Related articles | |||||||
| Domestic manufacturers | |
|---|---|
| Components | |
| Motorsport and tuners | |
| Related topics | |
| Divisions and subsidiaries |
|  | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joint venture |
| |||||||||||||
| Affiliates |
| |||||||||||||
| Platforms | ||||||||||||||
| Other | ||||||||||||||
| Divisions/ marques |
|  | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subsidiaries |
| |||||
| Joint ventures and shareholdings |
| |||||
| Facilities and products | ||||||
| People |
| |||||
| Racing teams | ||||||
| Related topics | ||||||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
