Comments on: Volvo To Geely Deal Falling Apart?

By: autonut

autonut — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:10:24 +0000

Bartel, A+

By: ZekeToronto

ZekeToronto — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 03:29:39 +0000

Agreed … in this context the IP excuse is laughable. I wonder what really went wrong?

By: Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 03:19:59 +0000

Intellectual property, my eye. A whalesized red herring. And it stinks.

Western car companies have shared intellectual property with Chinese for more than 20 years. In joint venture companies. Giant universities that teach the Chinese how to design, assemble, market, and sell a car. These universities have a tuition fee: Share the profits.

Ford already sold Volvo IP to China, for a fee: They have a joint venture with Dongfeng. No IP problems there.

But when a deal goes sour, the public is being bamboozled with the IP bugaboo. Don’t fall for it. Ford shared IP with Stalin and Hitler. They can sell outdated designs and tooling to China just as well.

Jeez, GM has a huge engineering center in Shanghai where they breed future technology at Chinese prices. That’s way more sensitive than selling a “current tech” company. “Current tech” is 5 years back.

By: autonut

autonut — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 01:59:27 +0000

There is not much needed to fix a Volvo in North America. Elsewhere Ford has problem called Ford. In Europe Volvo does not sell because Fords fit and finish is as good as Volvo and ALL Volvo engines and transmissions available as Fords for much less coin. In Europe even Lexus does not sell the same engine and transmission in Toyota, it would not fly. The only way to fix Volvo outside of US is to stop selling identically equipped Fords. Not a solution Ford wants to use, I am sure.

By: postjosh

postjosh — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 01:22:38 +0000

the best thing for ford would be if they can afford to keep volvo in the family. it’s a real nice fit and it wouldn’t take all that much to fix volvo.

By: mtypex

mtypex — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:18:31 +0000

The Geely sedan in the photo is not any worse than the Chrysler Imperial Concept.

Yeah, pass the jar, I’ll a cookie. Thanks.

By: Mark out West

Mark out West — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:11:55 +0000

@50merc:

Shanghai Silver Shadow?

By: AICfan

AICfan — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:04:37 +0000

Ford employee arrested trying to pass secrets to SAIC? Ok, I just folded a tin foil hat here, but am I the only one thinking that that stuff was ultimately destined for a certain business partner of theirs?

By: 50merc

50merc — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:04:41 +0000

Agree, npbheights. That’s one classy-looking car. If it’s big enough, they could sell it for Camry money.

By: npbheights

npbheights — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:02:09 +0000

If Geely could bring the above photographed car with decent crash test results and average reliability to the US for Corolla money, they would sell hundreds of thousands of them.

By: SupaMan

SupaMan — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:00:18 +0000

Much as I hate to admit it, you have to be impressed at their ability to copy designs and then claim “it’s original”. That Geely in the photo for example…

By: SupaMan

SupaMan — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:00:01 +0000

Much as I hate to admit it, you have to be impressed at their ability to copy designs and then claim “it’s original”. That Geely in the phot for example…

By: Facebook User

Facebook User — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:55:40 +0000

I think most Ford vehicles are based on Volvo’s platform (D3).

Ford’s safety is all Volvo too…

By: Joe McKinney

Joe McKinney — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:46:59 +0000

No, you can’t hide things from the Chinese. However, it’s one thing if they reverse engineer and copy your designs. It’s another if you sell them the blueprints and tooling.

By: Omnifan

Omnifan — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:41:36 +0000

All we do by selling our companies to foreign firms is to create new competitors. When will we ever learn?

By: CyCarConsulting

CyCarConsulting — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:38:08 +0000

Part of the problem was when Volvo sold to Ford out of dire straits. There was about $400,000 left in the r&d dept for the company, hence the Ford platforms and major influences in the following production models.
To think you can hide anything from the Chinese would be the same as, thinking you can hide a girlfriend from your wife. Get over it and play ball.

By: sfdennis1

sfdennis1 — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:21:26 +0000

Agreed, the Chinese have shown absolutely no respect for intellectual property rights.

That ‘big dog’ needs some training, or it’ll eat everybody’s lunch. We need to set some rules with them, NOW, while we still have at least some power.

By: Joe McKinney

Joe McKinney — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:45:26 +0000

So sharing your intellectual property with the Chinese is like trusting your dog to guard your lunch.