Geely To Get Hands On Juicy Volvo Technology

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

IP squad, to the front! SinoCast, relying on information from a “top executive of Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd.” says that Geely will buy 100 percent of Volvo, “including the ownership of existing technologies in the fields of safety and environmental protection, as well as technologies of new car models.”

Before, it was reported that Ford could hold back some sensitive technology, namely new environmental and safety gear. Nothing doing, says Geely. Also, Geely seeks to get their hands on advanced hybrid and electric car technologies jointly developed by Volvo and Vattenfall.

Sinocast’s top executive at Geely says that Geely will acquire Volvo’s lock, stock, and barrel, including plants of complete cars and components, R&D centers, warehouses, production equipment, tangible and intangible assets, the works.

The price tag is said be between $1.5b and $2b. The deal is supposed to close before May 2010. Recently, Chinese media said that Geely will most likely move their headquarters from Hangzhou to Beijing and build a new factory in China’s capital, that will nearly double the Swedish brand’s annual global output to 300,000 cars. Sinocast’s top exec did not want to confirm that story.

Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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 5 comments
  • Pig_Iron Pig_Iron on Feb 02, 2010

    I went around the Volvo boards this morning. Nothing. No outrage; nothing. Maybe all the hardcores from the RWD days have moved on, or... passed away. Maybe they believe nothing has changed. One thing I did notice is that the Volvo base is much more fragmented than the SAAB one. Colin Powell?

  • Tedward Tedward on Feb 02, 2010

    Hell, this might even improve the breed. The company doesn't make a single car that I'd be interested in, not a one, and I like Volvo's conservative styling.

    • Ruvi Ruvi on Feb 12, 2010

      As an European fan of Volvo (since childhood), I can tell you don't understand the brand. It's 100% sure, Geely will not improve Volvo (:

  • Shaker Shaker on Feb 02, 2010

    Well, at least the Brunhilda hips these cars have been growing may trim down to Oriental size (not racist... I think).

  • Amendment X Amendment X on Feb 02, 2010

    Now that Ford's doing better, why not cancel the sale?

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