alin89
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Chinese automaker Geely has signed a letter of intent to purchase Volvo from Ford, a Chinese news site is reporting today. The report cites anonymous sources in the Chinese government and no official word has come from Volvo, Geely or Ford, nor has it been corroborated by other sources, lending doubt to its accuracy.
According to the report, Ford and Geely are still working out many details of the agreement, including the transfer of technology, Volvo's marketing and market position and any layoffs that will stem from the sale. Volvo will reportedly move a production line to the Chinese city of Dongguan in the Guangdong Province. The report indicates that Geely has already gotten the OK from the city and has applied for land and a loan to build a new factory on, though big business deals in China require the approval of the federal government. No purchase price was reported.
The report says that Geely will invest US$10 billion in building the Volvo brand both in China and abroad. The first model to be built under Geely's watch will reportedly be the new 2011 XC90, at least one version of which will be built at the proposed new facility in Dongguan. It is not known how this deal, should it exist, will affect Volvo's partnership with Geely's rival Chinese automaker Chang'an.
Volvo has responded to the report with the following statement:
"An announcement related to the sale of Volvo Car Corp. would only come from Ford Motor Company. As of today, neither Ford Motor Company nor Volvo Car Corporation in Sweden has made any announcement regarding the sale of Volvo. Reports of such a sale by any media outlet are speculative and, therefore, are not accurate."
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Geely to buy Volvo from Ford
GEELY Automobile Holdings has reached a preliminary agreement with Ford Motor Co to purchase its Volvo unit and Geely plans to produce a new Volvo model in Guangzhou Province, according to media reports yesterday.
The Geely acquisition, following that of another firm's earlier bid to purchase a foreign brand, is yet another opportunity for domestic car makers to expand into the global market.
China's Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Co announced recently it was to acquire General Motors Corp's Hummer brand.
Zhejiang Province-based Geely aims to purchase Volvo and build a production line for the Volvo XC90 in Guangzhou Province's Dongguan City, the National Business Daily reported yesterday.
"It's the right time for Chinese firms to make overseas acquisition during the slowdown in the economy," said Jia Xinguang, chief analyst with the Chinese National Automotive Industry Consulting and Development Corp.
The value of the deal is not known but Volvo, which was bought by Ford for US$6.49 billion, won't be sold for less than US$3 billion, according to Jia. Geely couldn't be contacted for comment yesterday.
Representatives of Geely, one of China's biggest private auto makers, have already visited Volvo's headquarters, industry sources told Shanghai Daily.
The purchase will help Geely expand into the medium and high-level markets, Jia said.
Compared to American brands, European brands are better known by Chinese consumers, he said.
Geely sold 101,171 units between January and May, a jump of 57.8 percent year on year, because it had tapped into the second and third-tier cities after the government handed out subsidies to encourage people in rural areas to buy cars.
The China Passenger Car Association predicted this week that vehicle sales in the country would grow 17 percent this year from 2008, outpacing the 6.7 percent rise last year.
Sursa: http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2009/200906/20090618/article_404524.htm
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And the greenest car of the year is … a diesel-powered Volvo
It may not be a streamlined hybrid, a futuristic electric vehicle or a snazzy biofuel car, but a distinctly boxy diesel Volvo has won What Car? magazine's award for the year's greenest car.
A small family car with carbon emissions on a par with Toyota's Prius, the Volvo S40 DRIVe received the award today from London mayor Boris Johnson. Vauxhall's Ampera electric car and US electric car-maker Tesla also received awards.
Johnson said: "There are clear incentives for manufacturers to raise the bar higher and higher to design less gas guzzling cars that take hundreds of pounds off consumers' fuel bills. This is good for the planet, good for the economy and great for the driver."
What Car? editor Steve Fowler said of the winning Volvo: "It's not just about a low CO2 figure. The S40 is great to drive, safe, has enough space for the family and, crucially, is cheap to run, too."
The winners:
Supermini
Fiat 500 Start&Stop £9,700, 113g/km, 58.9mpg
Small family car
Volvo S40 1.6D DRIVe S £17,495, 104g/km, 72.4mpg
Family car
Toyota Avensis 2.0 D-4D T2 £17,545, 135g/km, 55.4mpg
Executive car
BMW 318d ES £24,235, 123g/km, 60.1mpg
MPV
Citroën Grand C4 Picasso 1.6 HDi £19,095, 140g/km, 53.3mpg
4X4
Lexus RX450h SE-L £50,460, 148g/km, 44.8mpg
Sports car
Mini Cooper S £16,575, 149g/km, 45.6 mpg
Luxury car
Audi A8 2.8 V6 FSI SE £49,970, 199g/km, 34.0mpg
Technology
Vauxhall Ampera
Editor's award
Tesla
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Volvo is joining GM in confusing customers by promoting a car they can't buy until 2012 right now. Unlike the Chevy Volt, the Volvo isn't an EREV, just a PHEV with a diesel engine.
VOLVO CARS TO BE MARKET LEADER IN PLUG-IN HYBRID TECHNOLOGY
Volvo Cars continues to focus heavily on advanced green technology and is now taking yet another major step forward in keeping with the company's over-riding vision - DRIVe Towards Zero. A unique joint project together with Swedish energy supplier Vattenfall is prompting the production of battery-powered Volvos featuring plug-in hybrid technology as early as 2012.
"There is no doubt that the environmental issue is at the very top of Volvo Cars' product development agenda right now," says Stephen Odell, President and CEO of Volvo Cars. "Carbon dioxide emissions from our cars will be drastically reduced by the plan we are now implementing and our aggressive electrification strategy will put us in a leading position when it comes to environmentally optimised passenger transport."
Plug-in electrical hybrids in production by 2012
There are many benefits to plug-in electrical hybrids: carbon dioxide emissions are far lower and with an electric motor offering higher power, the car's performance is also far better. Being able to offer a truly attractive car that does not compromise on the other important properties that the customer wants is an absolute precondition for the market to shift towards more environmentally sustainable alternatives that really do make a difference.
"In fact, I would go so far as to say that the plug-in electrical hybrid we will launch in 2012 will be a true dream car. With the innovative solution we will offer, the car owner will be able to drive a thoroughly enjoyable car packed with Volvo's renowned high safety and genuine driving pleasure", says Stephen Odell.
Stephen Odell says that Volvo Cars' industrial cooperation with Vattenfall opens up entirely new potential for developing future green technologies in a far more efficient way. Working in partnership is something that the company regards as essential in order to generate sustainable development.
"DRIVe Towards Zero is our vision and with Vattenfall's expertise and partnership, we are making giant strides towards our targets. With our updated environmental map for the future, we are reinforcing our leading position in the environmental sphere within the premium segment," concludes Stephen Odell.
The following section presents Volvo Cars' environmental alternative and its map for the future.
DRIVe
At present, Volvo Cars has seven car models that can be specified in DRIVe configuration. The DRIVe badge is attached to those cars in the model range that have extremely low carbon dioxide emissions. Among their many features, these cars have been specially designed for low air resistance and their drivelines are optimised for low fuel consumption. The most fuel-efficient variants are the C30, S40 and V50 1.6D DRIVe, with fuel consumption of 3.9 litres/100 km (104 grams CO2/km).
FlexiFuel
Volvo Cars' FlexiFuel models are powered by E85 (85 percent renewable bioethanol and 15 percent petrol). Bioethanol is an entirely renewable fuel and can be made from a variety of sources such as sugar-cane, wheat and wood by-products. Both Volvo's smaller models (the C30, S40 and V50) and the larger cars (the V70 and S80) are available in FlexiFuel variants. There is a choice of three engine power outputs: the 1.8F producing 125 hp, the 2.0F which produces 145 hp and the turbocharged version, the 231 hp 2.5FT.
Bi-Fuel: V70 2.5FT in gas configuration
Biogas is one of the vehicle fuels with the lowest climate impact. On Volvo Cars' home market, where there is a satisfactory infrastructure for gas supply, the best-selling V70 model will be available in a gas-powered version in 2009. An outside conversion specialist contracted by Volvo Cars will fit the gas tank. The car's range on gas is about 300 km. To back this up there is the 2.5FT 231 hp FlexiFuel engine so the car's total range on biofuel is more than 900 km.
The car can be run on petrol, bioethanol, natural gas, biogas and hytane*.
* Methane gas with 10 percent hydrogen gas mixed in the fuel.
Start/Stop
The Volvo Cars model range also includes engines that switch themselves off when the car comes to a standstill. These so-called micro-hybrids cut fuel consumption by 4-5 percent. This system is even more effective in congested city traffic with frequent stops and starts. Start/Stop is being initially introduced on the C30, S40 and V50 DRIVe and will undergo constant development, and will over time be implemented in additional drivelines.
In 2011, Volvo Cars expects to introduce yet another highly advanced, entirely in-house developed system with even greater savings potential.
GTDi technology
In 2009, Volvo Cars will launch the development of an entirely new generation of high-efficiency petrol engines. These engines will be far more economical and will cut fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions by 20-30 percent.
GTDi technology makes it possible to reduce engine size while retaining current performance levels.
Plug-in electrical hybrids
Volvo Cars will put plug-in electrical hybrids on the market as early as 2012. With this technology, there is a battery pack that is used to drive an entirely emission-free electric motor. The battery is recharged via a regular wall socket and in addition, braking energy while on the move is stored and reused. This power system will be supplemented by one of Volvo's high-efficiency diesel engines. This diesel engine is designed to run on renewable synthetic diesel and will meet forthcoming extremely stringent exhaust regulations.
The car's range will be class-leading and what is more, tailpipe exhaust emissions will be virtually non-existent while the car is powered by electricity. If the battery pack is recharged with electricity produced from renewable sources, then carbon dioxide emissions from the lifecycle perspective will also be very low. In the NEDC standardised driving cycle, carbon dioxide emissions from Volvo's plug-in electrical hybrid will be lower than 50 grams/km. The plug-in electrical hybrid will thus qualify into what is known as the super-credit tax incentive band. In several European countries, a variety of incentive programmes such as tax relief will be introduced over the next few years. Cars that emit less than 50 grams of CO2/km will probably be granted the most favourable status.
Battery-powered cars
For short distances in city traffic, dedicated battery-powered cars may well be the next step. Volvo Cars is therefore researching into this area. There are still many challenges that have to be solved with battery cars and the company is working hard to find alternative ways of reducing battery cost, increasing their performance and ensuring that Volvo's high safety requirements are met at all times. At present, there are no battery-powered cars in Volvo's product plans, but the possibility of introducing new green technology is under constant review.
Sursa: http://jalopnik.com/5273813/volvo-jumps-on-plug+in-hybrid-bandwagon
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Inca o problema. Se pare ca drumurile noastre, vechimea masinii si suspensia rigida au contribuit creearea unui zgomot la suspensie, nu stiu sigur daca e vreo busca, nu m-as mira, daca sunt de cauciuc e ceva normal sa se degradeze in timp nefiind schimbate de cand s-a nascut sau vre-un amortizor ceva, imi puteti da niste sfaturi cum as putea afla ce imi face zgomot ? Se aude ca un fel de scartait.Amortizor nu cred ca e, ala cand se duce iti face masina ca o barca pe valuri.
Eu zic ca sunt bucsi, daca scartaitul e la viteze mici si denivelari, atunci sunt bucsile de bara stabilizatoare.
Daca sunt bucsele, ce parere aveti despre bucsele poliuretaniceEu nush ce sunt alea, si nici n-am timp sa ma documentez
, dar, acolo unde ai alternativa, sa pui bucsi din fier, nu aluminiu sau altceva. 
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Lasa ca e mai bine sa fie pe recirculare, la ce sa-l mai decuplezi?
Asa compresorul nu mai e nevoit sa se "chinuie" cu aerul cald de afara si prafuit si ti-l recircula pe cel din interior
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Swedish automaker Volvo remains the worldwide leader in deployment of vehicle safety systems in the United States for the 2009 model year, with an average of five per car, according to iSuppli Corp.
"Volvo has always distinguished itself in terms of safety, with the company offering ruggedly-built cars that place the top priority on protecting drivers and passengers," said Phil Magney, vice president of automotive research for iSuppli. "However, Volvo in recent years has taken the lead in employing safety technologies beyond the physical design and construction of their cars."
Volvo's average of five systems per car in the United States gave it the No.-1 position in safety technology deployment in the 2009 model-year, up from 4.7 for 2008. Close behind in second place was Infiniti with an average of 4.2 safety systems per car model, up from four during the 2008 model year.
Beyond overall leadership, Volvo was the only car maker to have more than one 2009 model with eight safety systems. Among the four Volvo models so equipped was the new XC60, a compact crossover SUV.
The vehicles with the largest number of available safety systems-tied at eight each-were the BMW 7 Series and the Volvo XC60, S80, V70 and XC70.
"Luxury automotive brands increasingly are turning to driver assist technologies designed to enhance passenger safety to distinguish their vehicles from competitors," Magney said.
After Volvo and Infiniti, Audi, Cadillac and BMW rounded out the top five brands for the 2009 model year in the United States based on the breadth of per-model safety system deployment.
"In the current economy we expect car buyers to be more practical about their option selections and driver assist technologies designed to enhance safety are second only to fuel economy concerns," said Phil Magney, vice president of automotive research for iSuppli. "The proliferation of low-cost and reliable cameras and sensors for vehicle applications is helping to make driving safer."
Sursa: http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/2283997/
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Vizualtech has given us impressive 3D renderings of different vehicles in the past like the Dodge Challenger, Mercury Cougar and the Volvo C30 Racer. Now designer Bo Zolland had created a rendering of a Pickup concept that fuses classic Volvo design with an El Camino body style.
The front of the model has the face of the S40 with some minor tweaks. The rear has the Volvo V70 pickup bed the features Volvo tailights. The car would have the XC90’s 311-hp V8 engine.
Sursa: http://autopark.blogspot.com/2009/03/volvo-v70-pickup-concept-rendering.html
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The Volvo XC60 and XC90 received Spanish safety institute Centro Zaragoza's "best safety choice" award in the categories for small and large four-wheel drive cars respectively. The decision took into consideration whether various safety systems were fitted as standard in the car models. In the XC60, Volvo's breakthrough City Safety system is fitted as standard.
Centro Zaragoza (CZ) works with vehicle research on behalf of Spanish and Portuguese insurance companies. At present, the company represents 24 members. About 85 percent of the insurance companies in the Spanish vehicle industry and about 30 percent of those in Portugal are members of the institute.
This is the first time the award is being given. CZ is spotlighting European manufacturers that prioritise safety standard equipments offered in their models 2008. One of the parameters for receiving the award is that the cars must feature safety systems with well proven effectiveness, such as electronic stability control systems.
Effective occupant protection is another aspect that Centro Zaragoza prioritises. Particular weight is attached to good whiplash protection.
The Volvo XC60 received the award in the category for "small four-wheel drive offroad cars". The XC60 is fitted as standard with City Safety, whereby the car brakes automatically at speeds of up to 30 kilometres an hour.
"The award shows how important City Safety is. Centro Zaragoza noted that the XC60 and City Safety will result in less physical suffering for our customers and also lower insurance premiums. We are really happy about this," says Thomas Broberg, Senior Technical Advisor Safety, Volvo Cars.
The Volvo XC90 also received the corresponding award in the "large four-wheel drive offroad car" category. All told, awards were given in ten different categories.
The awards were presented in Brussels on Wednesday evening to Magnus Jonsson, Senior Vice President, Product Development.
Sursa: http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2009/03/20/454041.html
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Many things have been happening behind the scenes at Volvo since Ford announced it would sell the company, but we hadn't heard that major engine changes was one of them. According to a new report, Volvo will be transitioning to an all four-cylinder engine lineup some time in the next five to ten years.
According to Auto Motor Und Sport, anonymous sources within Volvo say that the company is abandoning five-, six- and eight-cylinder engines in favor of highly advanced four-cylinders. The sources say that Volvo is doing this to meet strict European emissions standards that call for just 120 g/km of CO2 emissions by 2015 and a mere 95 g/km of CO2 by 2020. Volvo apparently thinks that four-cylinder gas and diesel engines with all the latest fuel-saving, emissions-cleaning technology is the way to go.
But wait, is this true? Just the other day, Volvo sent out a long press release extolling its 80-year history of producing six-cylinder engines in both straight and V configurations. Volvo went to a great deal of effort to explain its long history with six-cylinder engines, its reasons for committing to the type and the advancements it made along the way. Could Volvo be trying to soften the blow, or is this rumor just that?
The report goes on to say that Volvo has already sunk a significant amount of money into a new four-cylinder diesel that will be powerful enough to make even the big XC90 feel sporty. Volvo is also reportedly working on a lineup of gas- and diesel-powered four-cylinders of varying capacities and outputs to spread across the range, all of which will be developed by Volvo alone rather than with PSA Citroen or Ford. The first is reported to be a 1.6-liter diesel that could debut as soon as the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Volvo insiders say that these engines will all be at least as powerful as current Volvo engines, if not more so. The report also says that Volvo's hybrid models are nearing completion and could turn up on the auto show circuit soon as well.
If these sources are correct, it would signal a very bold move from Volvo. The company currently uses a mix of four-, five-, six- and eight-cylinder engines in either straight or V configurations in cars that range from the mid-size S40 up to the XC90 SUV. Swapping them all for four-cylinders could hurt their appeal as well as their ability to compete in their classes with cars with larger engines. The strategy would have even more trouble in the U.S. where diesel cars and SUVs are not very popular. We have our doubts about the validity of this rumor, but what do you think? Could this be a bold move for Volvo or is it lunacy? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
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ca pozitonare pe piata, Saab este o marca de lux mai sus ca Volvo in primul rand ca pretSi ia gaseste pozitia pe piata a Saab si zi-mi si mie unde e Imparatia Sa Saab situata...ca eu nu-mi dau seama, e mama marcilor Saab asta daca el este mai de lux si mai sus clasata de Volvo...adica e intr-o clasa "vida", de care n-am auzit eu pana acum, sau Saab o fi vreun pui de Bentley si Rolls...ca asta reiese din cele spuse de tine.
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Some 1,247 new Volvo S80 D5 sedans with diesel engines, imported and distributed by Premier Automotive Group Korea, will be recalled due to manufacturing defects, the Ministry of Land, Transport, and Maritime Affairs said Wednesday.
The recall came as defects were found in the air-conditioners, which have difficulty letting out water, affecting the cars¡¯ electric systems. This can lead to overheating that produces smoke and a burning smell, even causing fires in the worst cases.
Subject to the recall are the 2007, 2008, and 2009 Volvo S80 D5 models produced and imported to the local market between Aug. 31, 2006 and Aug. 14 of last year.
Sursa: http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200903/200903050008.html
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au ajuns la concluzia ca tractiunea fata este mult mai performantaSau mult mai sigura
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Pe vremea cand inca mai era afisat pe forum "cine este on-line"?...Si-acum este...in stanga utilizatorilor prezenti pe site, e o iconita reprezentand 3 omuleti, click si vezi
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Probabil va incepe un razboi, mai mic sau mai mare.
Ma gandesc ca Iranul nu va apuca ziua cand se va putea numara printre detinatorii de bombe atomice, deoarece Israelul va ataca aceasta tara.
Problema e ca Rusia va porni in acest an in Iran un reactor nuclear, "construită în scopuri civile ÅŸi nu poate fi folosită pentru dezvoltarea armelor atomice", iar daca Israelul va ataca Iranul, probabil vor ataca si acest reactor nuclear, motiv pt rusi sa intervina si ei, motiv pt americani sa intervina si ei, motiv pt un al 3-lea razboi mondial, parerea mea...
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Ford Motor Co., seeking to raise cash to avoid a federal bailout, is in talks to sell its Volvo Car unit to China’s Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd., according to three people familiar with the discussions.
Ford probably will get less than the $6.4 billion it paid for Sweden-based Volvo in 1999, said one of the people, who declined to be identified because the preliminary talks are confidential. Ford has also approached Chinese automakers Chery Automobile Co. and Chongqing Changan Automobile Co., the people said.
Dearborn, Michigan-based Ford lost a record $14.6 billion last year and is trying to avoid asking for government loans to survive as U.S. auto sales plunge to the lowest level in almost 27 years. Buying Ford’s last European luxury brand would help Geely founder Li Shufu, 45, cut his reliance on selling low-cost compacts in China, even as Volvo’s sales plummet.
“Whether it can consummate into a deal is a big question,†said Alice Chong, an analyst at CIMB-GK Securities. “The acquisition would help Geely break into new markets and get better technology, but Geely may have to suffer short-term losses as sales in Europe and the U.S. are collapsing.â€
Ford spokesman Mark Truby and Geely spokesman Zhang Xiaodong declined to comment. Zhou Qin, a Changan Auto spokesman did not answer a call to his mobile phone and Chery spokesman Jin Yibo did not answer a call to his office phone.
Geely’s Approach
Geely, China’s largest privately owned carmaker, first approached Ford about buying Volvo a year ago, before the U.S. automaker had decided to sell its Swedish auto unit, two of the people said. Preliminary talks began in December after Ford said it would consider selling the unit.
Geely has received permission from China’s National Development and Reform Commission to study the acquisition, said the people. The government agency must sign off on any major merger and acquisition talks before discussions can begin.
The automaker has already received commitments from Export- Import Bank of China to provide the necessary financing for the acquisition, the people said.
“Chinese automakers want to tap foreign rivals’ resources in technical development,†said Zhang Xin, an analyst at Guotai Junan Securities Co. in Beijing. “To catch up with foreign automakers by themselves takes a lot of both time and capital. Acquisitions could help them.â€
Sales documents will be sent to prospective buyers in the middle of February, a person familiar with the plans said last month.
Volvo’s Struggles
Volvo, based in Gothenburg, Sweden, has struggled as the global auto market declines and other automakers make gains in safety technology, a long-time strength for the automaker. Volvo’s U.S. sales fell 64 percent last year. Ford said Volvo had a pretax loss of $736 million in the fourth quarter.
Volvo, the maker of S80 sedans and C70 coupes, was once central to a failed strategy by Ford to reap a third of its profits from luxury autos. The automaker has been shedding European brands under Chief Executive Officer Alan Mulally, recruited from Boeing Co. in 2006.
Last June, Ford sold Jaguar and Land Rover to India’s Tata Motors Ltd. for $2.4 billion. It sold its Aston Martin luxury line for $931 million in May of 2007 to a group of investors.
Geely’s Goal
Geely Holding Group, based in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, eastern China, was founded two decades ago by Li, a former farmer who amassed a net worth of $220 million, according to Forbes magazine.
The automaker has boosted sales overseas and added larger models as rising wages and increasing competition from overseas automakers damp domestic sales. Geely Auto’s sales in China fell 1 percent last year, while the total market increased 7 percent, according to J.D. Power and Associates.
Geely Group, Geely Auto’s parent, boosted overseas sales 80 percent last year, it said in December, without giving a precise sales number. In 2007, it sold almost 30,000 vehicles overseas, according to the company’s Web site. The company expects to boost sales 25 percent this year, it said last month.
Geely Auto rose 1.7 percent to 60 HK cents at the close of trading in Hong Kong.
Ford provides engines to some Volvo cars and the two automakers share mechanical underpinnings on several models. Any buyer would have to be assured that Ford will remain healthy enough to provide those key components to Volvo, the people said.
Geely would likely seek to buy Ford’s entire equity stake in Volvo rather than negotiate with the Swedish unit over purchases of specific assets, the people said.
Ford creditors are likely to receive some, or even all, of the proceeds from any sale of Volvo. Ford pledged Volvo as part of the collateral it put up for $23 billion in loans it secured in 2006.
Sursa: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?sid=aQ1WbZDfC9G4&pid=20601087
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Daca batele's Stella, Heineken sau Beck's luati mai multeFara alcoooooool
:D -
S80 - Lungime 4851 mm
GS - 4826 mm
9-5 - 4827
A6 - 4927 mm
A8 - 5062 mm
Seria 5 - 4841 mm
Seria 7 - 5072 mm
De-asta toate revistele incadreaza S80 cu GS, 9-5, Seria 5, A6 etc...
Nu se iau dupa cat de incapatoare e in spate fiecare.
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The next chapters are about to be written for Saab and Volvo, two troubled Swedish brands owned by even more troubled U.S. parents.
As widely reported this week in Europe, the solution for Saab is to return to its autonomous near-premium car-builder roots. When we asked Saab spokesman Eric Geers recently at the Detroit auto show, he observed, "You would not believe just how happy everyone in Trollhättan is about this. Ecstatic.
The basic Saab plan is to use the initial financial aid already offered by the Swedish government to make this back-to-the-future move work right. In mid-December, Stockholm approved a $3-billion package to be shared by Saab and Volvo, an immediate $600-million emergency loan fund plus a $2.4-billion line of credit. There will also be a $360-million investment in a new government-sponsored automotive R&D center.
Ford and General Motors helped Volvo and Saab make their cases to the Swedish government, and it is clear that the Americans are intent on divesting. In Ford's case, there has been lots of interest in Volvo from other buyers, according to press reports in Europe and Asia. In GM's case, there has been as much interest in Saab as there was in Hummer — in other words, none whatsoever.
Saab plans to use the Swedish line of credit to help carry out the new plan of reconsolidating everything Saab back in Trollhättan, preferably by the start of 2010. A Saab contact tells Inside Line, "GM has been absolutely cooperative in letting us take this road home. They frankly have much bigger fish to fry and no time at all to really focus on resolving our situation, so there is no resistance from Detroit."
Not only will Saab now be building the next 9-5 family in Trollhättan together with the 9-3 — thus changing the earlier plan to build the 9-5 at Opel's Russelsheim factory — but the 9-4X crossover will be pulled from Mexican production at the Ramos Arizpe factory and instead also will be built in Trollhättan.
"GM and Saab will remain connected technologically for at least a few years in an amicable supply partnership, but Saab will then be fully independent by the next generation of products in 2014 or 2015," our source tells us. Depending on how smoothly everything goes, Saab tells us that the new 9-5 could start deliveries as soon as October of this year, or no later than spring of 2010. As for the 9-4X, timing would be for early 2010.
Meanwhile, over in Gothenberg, an announcement is expected that a Chinese investor will soon be taking a majority interest in Volvo.Reports out of the Swedish and Chinese media indicate that the chief Chinese candidate is Chang'an Auto, already a manufacturing partner for Ford in China. Both Dongfeng and Chery have also been mentioned as likely suitors, but both have indicated that they have other domestic priorities rather than acquiring foreign makes.
Sursa: http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=140269
Maaaa ce inteligenta pe SAAb maaaa...bine ca asta se intampla datorita conjucturii...GM oricum n-are oferta pt ei pe cand Ford e cat pe-aci sa vanda Volvo.
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S80-ul poate are vreo legatura cu Ford Taurus si cu Lincoln MKS, folosesc aceeasi platforma.
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oricum cred ca Volkswagen ar cumpara pentru ca e cel mai bogat actionaradica Porsche...ca a preluat 51% din Volkswagen
Ford s-a decis: vinde Volvo chinezilor
in Cafenea
Posted · Report post
Geely's procurement of Swedish auto giant Volvo is approaching the final stage, the National Business Daily learned from Sweden . Volvo and its owner Ford Motor Company are expected to make the final approval as early as this month.
In addition to Geely, which will get the majority of Ford's stake in Volvo, a Swedish company will also acquire the remaining shares. Meanwhile, Ford will keep 10-15 percent of its presence in Volvo for the following 7-8 years, in order to facilitate the launch of new Volvo models.
Ford plans to sell Volvo at around 20 to 25 billion Swedish Kronas (2.528 billion dollars to 3.159 billion dollars), of which Geely will pay 15.6 billion Swedish Kronas.
Previously, the Volvo Engineers Union had expressed dissent about the deal and wished for a European owner instead of Chinese Geely, an opinion also shared by higher officials in the Swedish government. However, Ford's "package sale," which involves a local Swedish company, greatly eased the dissent.
Some experts told the National Business Daily yesterday that Geely's boss, Li Shufu, will not merge the two companies, but will keep Volvo's operation independent.
Regarding Volvo's XC90 manufacturing site in China, insiders from Geely mentioned that both Dong Guan in Guangdong Province and Tianjin Municipality are likely places. However, rumours spread earlier this month saying Beijing and Bazhou in Hebei Province may also be the host for the Swedish vehicles.
Sursa: http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90776/90884/6726464.html