Chinese-Built Volvo S60L Bound For US Market In 2015
CEOs and senior execs going on shopping runs to Staples may soon be able to leave their MKTs at the parking garage when the Chinese-made Volvo S60L arrives next year.
Automotive News reports Volvo plans to ship 5,000 units to the U.S. annually, with sales to begin in H2 2015. The move will save the Sino-Swede automaker considerable cash, as the vehicles will be imported from a factory not involved in a joint venture like Volvo’s competitors, according to CEO Hakan Samuelsson.
He also says Volvo will position the S60L as an “executive car,” offering more features and options in its 112.5-inch wheelbase than the S60, which will take its place as a sportier variant.
As for quality, product development chief Peter Mertens said the longer S60 fared better than the European-built standard model based on the company’s internal quality audits.
Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.
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As the US has had a huge automotive 'tariff war' with China over the last few years, with having China imposing a antidumping tariffs on top of existing tariff on American-made cars with engines over 2.5 liters. Its only recently been settled with the US getting a favorable judgement from the WTO. As the pendulum swings the other direction, with China not fearing US imports of cars, but rather the US fearing Chinese-made cars. I wonder if there will be retaliatory tariffs on America's end? The US imposed tariff's on Chinese made tires, even though it was largely ineffective in stopping 50 million Chinese tires from being sold in the US.
I grew up in a house that always had at least one volvo. Now Volvo might as well be dead.
CEOs and Senior Execs drive MKTs? FoMoCo appreciates the plug, but you need to get out more, anybody second-line and above has at least a C-class or an A6, and a Tahoe/Denali for tailgating/kid hauling/family truckstering.
At least this experiment is being conducted on a dead brand. Those of us who owned classic 1- and 2-series boxes have long since completed the grieving process and can now take a detached bystander's interest in how the Chinese attempt to reanimate the corpse. For over a decade Volvos have looked like Koreans designed them so who cares if Chinese now build them?