Volvo Gets New Head Viking

Cammy Corrigan
by Cammy Corrigan

The Detroit News reports that Volvo CEO Fredrik Arp is the third Ford big boss in the last month to fall/get pushed from power (after Canada and Australia’s suits). Arp has handed the reins to Stephen Odell, a former Ford Europe exec. Odell’s got a full proverbial plate: massive layoffs (1200 workers), rising raw material costs, a weak dollar, a weak sales in their core market (that’s you Yanks), the dud S80, the D.O.A. C30 and falling demand for SUVs (e.g. the XC90 and soon-to-be-released XC60). Leaving those issues aside, Ford’s Executive Vice President exchanged the usual PR pleasantries. “Fredrik has decided that now is the right time to hand over to a new president and CEO,” Lewis Booth pronounced. “Who will lead the Volvo team through the next stage of its recovery.” The next stage of recovery? What recovery? Doesn’t Booth mean the next stage of Volvo’s sale? According to Ford’sofficial profile, Stephen Odell’s speciality is sales and marketing. Who better to prep Ford’s ailing Swede for sale?

Cammy Corrigan
Cammy Corrigan

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  • Kjc117 Kjc117 on Sep 02, 2008

    If you want a C30 just get the Mazda version the 3. Mazda version is better just doesn't have the Euro mark up. Ford is done raping Volvo now they are in the process with Mazda. Next gen Mustang will be off the RX8 platform sans rotary. The Miata is next...

  • Buckshot Buckshot on Sep 03, 2008

    I just looked at the us Volvo site, and they´re just offering 1 (one) engine??? This happens to be the strongest AND the thirstiest engine they have. They have a 100bhp, 145, 170 and the above 227 gasoline. They also have diesels, 109, 136 and 180bhp. They also have a flexifuel 125bhp engine. In these times of high fuel prices, that´s insane.

  • Buckshot Buckshot on Sep 03, 2008

    The comment above is about the C 30.

  • Dr Lemming Dr Lemming on Sep 03, 2008

    Is this considered a promotion for Odell, who has been mentioned as a possible successor to Mullaly? Redbarchetta: Ford seems to have a consistent weakness in its market efforts. The C30 should be doing better. Part of the problem is pricing, but Ford also seems to have the attitude that its products should sell themselves.

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