Volvo Cars

Volvo Personvagnar AB
Volvo Car Corporation

Type	Subsidiary of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group
Industry	Automotive
Founded	April 14, 1927
Founder(s)	SKF, Assar Gabrielsson and Gustav Larson
Headquarters	Gothenburg, Sweden
Key people	Li Shufu (Chairman) Stefan Jacoby (President and CEO), Hans-Olov Olsson (Vice-Chairman)
Products	Automobiles, Engines
Revenue	US$12.442 billion (2009)[1]
Employees	19,650 (2009)[1]
Parent	Zhejiang Geely Holding Group
Website	VolvoCars.com

Volvo Car Corporation, or Volvo Personvagnar AB, is a Swedish automobile manufacturer founded in 1927, in Gothenburg, Sweden. It is owned by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group.^[2] Volvo was originally formed as a subsidiary company to the ball bearing maker SKF. When Volvo AB was introduced on the Swedish stock exchange in 1935, SKF sold most of the shares in the company. Volvo Cars was owned by AB Volvo until 1999, when it was acquired by the Ford Motor Company as part of its Premier Automotive Group. Geely Holding Group then acquired Volvo from Ford in 2010.^[3]

Volvo produces models ranging from SUVs, station wagons (estates), and sedans (saloons), to compact executive sedans and coupes. With approximately 2,300 local dealers from around 100 national sales companies worldwide, the US is Volvo Cars' largest market, followed by Sweden, Great Britain, Germany and China. In 2009 Volvo recorded global sales of 334,808 cars.^[1]

Volvo is often compared to and nicknamed tractors,^[4][5] partially because Volvo AB was and still is a manufacturer of heavy equipment, earlier Bolinder-Munktell, now Volvo Construction Equipment. Some consumers considered older models to be slow and heavy,^[6] thus earning the distinction, "brick",^[7] as a term of endearment for the classic, block-shaped Volvo, with the more powerful turbocharged variants known as "turbobricks".^[7] The company moved away from the boxy styles of the 1970s and 1980s, to models which gained a reputation for sporting performance, including the factory-supported Volvo 240 turbos, which won the 1985 European Touring Car Championship (ETC) and 1986 Australian Touring Car Championship (ATCC).^[8]

Volvo is known for its high safety standards. Owners are often proud of achieving high mileage;^[9] one well-documented 1966 Volvo P1800 has been driven over 2.8 million miles, a Guinness World Record for most miles driven by a single owner in a non-commercial vehicle.^[10] According to some figures, the average age of a Volvo being discarded is 19.8 years, second only to Mercedes.^[11]

History

Gustav Larson and Assar Gabrielsson

Volvo company was founded in Gothenburg, Sweden in 1927. The company was created as a subsidiary company 100% owned by SKF. Assar Gabrielsson was appointed the managing director and Gustav Larson as the technical manager.

"Cars are driven by people. The guiding principle behind everything we make at Volvo, therefore, is and must remain, safety", Assar Gabrielsson and Gustav Larson 1927.

Volvo logotype (PRV-registr.) 1927

The trademark Volvo was first registered by SKF the 11 May 1915 with the intention to use it for a special series of ball bearing for the American market, but it was never used for this purpose. SKF trademark as it looks today was used instead for all the SKF-products. Some pre-series of Volvo-bearings stamped with the brand name 'Volvo' were manufactured but was never released to the market and it was not until 1927 that the trademark was used again, now as a trademark and company name for an automobile.

The first Volvo car left the assembly line April 14, 1927, and was called Volvo ÖV 4. After this the young company produced closed top and cabriolet vehicles, which were designed to hold strong in the Swedish climate and terrain. In the registration application for Volvo logotype in 1927, they simply made a copy of the entire radiator for ÖV4, viewed from the front.

In 1964 Volvo opened its Torslanda plant in Sweden, which currently is the one of its largest production sites (chiefly large cars and SUV). Then in 1965 the Ghent, Belgium plant was opened, which is the company's second largest production site (chiefly small cars). Finally in 1989 the Uddevalla plant in Sweden was opened, which is now jointly operated by Volvo Car Corporation and Pininfarina of Italy.

Volvo ÖV4 Touring 1927

Volvo PV4 4-Door saloon 1927

Volvo 144 saloon 1972

Volvo 850 estate

2002 Volvo S80

A collection of Volvo's most important historical vehicles are now housed in The Volvo Museum, which opened in a permanent location in Arendal at Hisingen on May 30, 1995.^[12] For several years, the collection had been housed at "The Blue Hangar," at the then closed Torslanda Airport.^[12]

In the early 1970s, Volvo acquired the passenger car division of the Dutch company DAF, and marketed their small cars as Volvos before releasing the Dutch-built Volvo 340, which went on to be one of the biggest-selling cars in the UK market in the 1980s.

Volvo Group, as one of the largest manufacturers of commercial vehicles in the world, took the initiative to sell its automobile manufacturing in 1998 in order to fully focus its efforts on the market for commercial vehicles.

Ford, on the other hand, saw advantages in acquiring a profitable prestige mid-size European automobile manufacturer, well renowned for its safety aspects, as an addition to its Premier Automotive Group. The buyout of Volvo Cars was announced on January 28, 1998, and in the following year the acquisition was completed at a price of $6.45 billion USD.

As a result of the divestiture, the Volvo trademark is now utilized by two separate companies:

• Volvo Group – a manufacturer of commercial vehicles, etc. owned by Swedish interests.
• Volvo Car Corporation or Volvo Cars – a manufacturer of automobiles owned by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group and formerly owned by Ford Motor Company.

Ford management

Volvo Car Corporation was part of Ford Motor Company's Premier Automotive Group (PAG). Since its acquisition by the PAG, the company has grown in its range of vehicles. It had been the only brand left in the group since the sale of Jaguar, Aston Martin and Land Rover.

After the sale of Jaguar Land Rover to Tata Motors of India, Ford decided to keep Volvo Cars despite mounting losses and gross economic down turns. Ford decided to restructure plans for Volvo Cars, pushing it further upmarket alongside the lower end of Mercedes and BMW sedans, wagons, and SUV crossovers. The outcome was the luxurious second generation Volvo S80 and the new small premium crossover Volvo XC60.

Talks were held about the fate of Volvo Cars in the event of failure of US automakers, including Volvo's parent Ford. Swedish concerns mounted after repeated mass layoffs at Volvo, prompting Sweden to enter the spotlight to help its automotive industry. The government was asked to look into a possible state ownership of Volvo, or financial bailout for Volvo Cars and SAAB of GM. Eventually, AB Volvo responded to heated talks and decided that they do not want to see Volvo Cars fail, so they agreed to help Volvo cut costs through partnerships and even a possible share ownership amongst a larger consortium. AB Volvo repeated and stood stern that they will not buy back Volvo cars nor be sole majority owner. They are only willing to become part share owner of their erstwhile car unit.

Ford announced in December 2008 that it was considering selling Volvo Cars and making complex evaluations; a sale price of US$6 billion was reported,^[13] but meanwhile it will try to make Volvo an independent company. The Swedish government was interested in helping with a possible Swedish acquisition of Volvo Cars in the near future along with AB Volvo. It was believed that BMW AG of Germany, Investor AB of Sweden, Chinese investors, or Russian investors were all possible candidates for purchase. Ultimately price was thought not to be the sole factor in the sale – Volvo Cars preference for its new owner, as well as the long-term strategic interest of Ford, will also influence the decision. Besides, AB Volvo must release the trademark rights to the new owner. Ford ultimately chose Geely Holding Group to acquire Volvo Cars.

Geely initially denied the plan for buying Volvo,^[14] followed by denials from both Ford and Volvo.^[15] After later estimates suggested that Volvo is only worth US$1-1.5 billion,^[16] Geely's parent company, Geely Group Holdings Co., planned to bid for Volvo,^[17] with Goldman Sachs investing HK$2.59 billion (334 million USD) to the holding company.^[18][19]

Geely acquisition

Ford Motor Company decided to consider putting Volvo Cars on the market in December 2008, after suffering huge losses that year.^[20] On October 28, 2009, Ford confirmed that, after considering several offers, the preferred buyer of Volvo Cars was Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, the parent of Chinese motor manufacturer Geely Automobile.^[21][22] On December 23, 2009, Ford confirmed that all substantive commercial terms of the sale to Geely had been settled. A definitive agreement was signed on March 28, 2010 worth $1.8 billion. The European Commission and China's Ministry of Commerce approved the deal on July 6 and July 29, 2010, respectively. The deal closed on August 2, 2010 with Geely paying $1.3 billion cash and a $200 million note. Further payments are expected with a later price "true-up".^[23][24] It is the largest overseas acquisition by a Chinese automaker.^[25]

Stefan Jacoby, formerly chief executive of Volkswagen of America, became Volvo Car Corporation's President and Chief Executive on August 16, replacing Stephen Odell, who became chief executive of Ford Europe. Li Shufu became Volvo Cars' Chairman of the Board. His board members include Vice-Chairman Hans-Olov Olsson, a former president and chief executive of Volvo Cars, and Håkan Samuelsson, formerly chief executive of MAN.^[26]

Safety

Volvo cars have long been marketed and stressed their historic reputation for solidity and reliability. Prior to strong government safety regulation Volvo had been in the forefront of safety engineering.^[27]

In 1944, laminated glass was introduced in the PV model.^[28] In 1958, Volvo engineer Nils Bohlin invented and patented the modern 3-Point Safety Belt, which became standard on all Volvo cars in 1959.^[29] Volvo was the first company to produce cars with padded dashboards starting in late 1956 with their Amazon model. Additionally, Volvo developed the first rear-facing child seat in 1964^[28] and introduced its own booster seat in 1978.^[28]

In 1986, Volvo introduced the first central high-mounted stoplight^[28] (a brake light not shared with the rear tail lights), which became federally mandated in the United States in the 1986 model year. Seat belt and child seat innovation continued as shown in the 1991 960. The 960 introduced the first three-point seat belt for the middle of the rear seat and a child safety cushion integrated in the middle armrest.^[28] Also in 1991 came the introduction of the Side Impact Protection System (SIPS) on the 940/960 and 850 models, which channeled the force of a side impact away from the doors and into the safety cage.^[30]

To add to its SIPS, in 1995 Volvo was the first to introduce side airbags and installed them as standard equipment in all models in 1996. At the start of the 1995 model year, Side Impact Protection (SIPs) bags were standard on high line Volvo 850s, and optional on other 850s. By the middle of the production year, they were standard on all 850s. In Model Year 1996 SIPs bags were standard on all Volvo models.

In 1998 Volvo also developed and was the first to install a head-protecting airbag, which was made standard in all new models as well as some existing models. The head-protecting airbag was not available on the 1996 C70 due to the initial design deploying the airbag from the roof; the C70, being a convertible, could not accommodate such an airbag. Later years of the C70 featured a head-protecting airbag deploying upwards from the door, negating the issue of roof position. It has been stated by many testing authorities that side head protecting curtain airbags can reduce risk of death in a side impact by up to 40% and brain injury by up to 55%, as well as protecting in a rollover situation.^[31]

In 1998, Volvo introduced its Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS), a safety device to prevent injury of front seat users during collisions.^[28] In 2004, Volvo introduced the BLIS system, which detects vehicles entering the Volvo's blind spot with a side view mirror mounted sensor and alerts the driver with a light. That year also saw Volvos sold in all markets equipped with side-marker lights and daytime-running lights. Much of Volvo's safety technology now also goes into other Ford vehicles. In 2005 Volvo presented the second generation of Volvo C70, it comes with extra stiff door-mounted inflatable side curtains (the first of its kind in a convertible).

In 2006 Volvo's Personal Car Communicator (PCC) remote control has been launched as an optional feature with the all new Volvo S80. Before a driver gets to their car, they are able to review the security level and know whether they have set the alarm and if the car is locked. Additionally, a heartbeat sensor warns if someone is hiding inside the car. The all new Volvo S80 is also the first Volvo model to feature Adaptive cruise control (ACC) with Collision Warning and Brake Support (CWBS).

Since 2004 all Volvo models except for the C70 and C30 are available with an all-wheel drive system developed by Haldex Traction of Sweden.^[32]

Even though Volvo Car Corp is owned by the Ford Motor Company, the safety systems of Volvo are still made standard on all of their vehicles. Volvo has patented all of their safety innovations, including SIPS, WHIPS, ROPS, DSTC, IC, and body structures. Some of these systems have shown up in other Ford vehicles in related forms to that of Volvo systems only because Volvo has licenced the FOMOCO and other PAG members to utilize these features.

A 2005 FOLKSAM report^[33] puts the 740/940 (from 1982 on) in the 15% better than average category, the second from the top category. The Volvo 745 was also recalled due to that the front seatbelts mounts could break in a collision.^[34]

In 2005, when the American non-profit, non-governmental Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) released its first annual Top Safety Picks vehicles list, none of Volvo's offered vehicles in the U.S. were included on the list.^[35] According to Russ Rader, a spokesman for IIHS, Volvo was lagging behind its competitors.^[36] Dan Johnston, a Volvo spokesman, denied that the company's vehicles are any less safe than the Institute's top-rated vehicles, adding that

"It's just a philosophy on safety that is different from building cars to pass these kinds of tests."^[37]

According to IIHS, Volvo's S80 became one of 2009 Top Safety Picks Award winner, but Volvo's S40 and S60 (both 2005–09 models with standard side airbags) failed to attain the highest rating in their side impact test. Volvo's C30 is not tested by IIHS yet,^[38][39] but received 5 star safety in EuroNCAP.^[40]

However, according to the IIHS, in recent years Volvo Cars have still managed to maintain their high class safety ratings as seen in test results.^[41] The Volvo XC90,^[42] S80^[43] and C70^[44] all score top scores in these rated crash tests.

In 2008 a French court found Volvo partially responsible for causing the death of two children and serious injuries of one in Wasselonne on June 17, 1999, when the brakes of a 1996 Volvo 850 failed. The court subjected Volvo to a 200,000 Euro fine.^{[27][45][46][47]}

Safety milestones

The Amazon was noted for its safety features, with a padded dashboard, front and rear seat belts and a laminated windshield.^[48]

• 1944 Safety cage
• 1944 Laminated windscreen
• 1954 Defroster vents for windscreen
• 1956 Windscreen washers
• 1957 Anchor points for 2–point safety belts front
• 1958 Anchor points for 2–point safety belts rear
• 1959 3–point front safety belts standard
• 1960 Padded instrument panel
• 1964 First rearward–facing child safety seat prototype tested
• 1966 Crumple zones front and rear
• 1966 Safety door–locks
• 1967 Safety belt rear seats
• 1969 Inertia reel safety belts
• 1971 Reminder safety belt
• 1972 3–point safety belts – rear
• 1972 Rearward–facing child safety seat
• 1972 Childproof locks on rear doors
• 1974 Multistage impact absorbing steering column
• 1974 Bulb integrity sensor
• 1975 Braking system with stepped bore master cylinder
• 1978 Child safety booster cushion
• 1982 "Anti–submarining" protection
• 1986 Three–point safety belt centre rear seat
• 1990 Integrated child safety cushion in centre rear seat
• 1991 SIPS – Side Impact Protection System
• 1991 Automatic height adjusting safety belt
• 1992 Reinforced rear seats in estate models
• 1995 Integrated child safety cushion outer rear seats
• 1997 ROPS – Roll Over Protection System (C70)
• 1998 WHIPS – Whiplash Protection System
• 1998 IC – Inflatable Curtain
• 2001 SCC – Volvo Safety Concept Car
• 2002 RSC – Roll Stability Control
• 2003 New Front Structure called Volvo Intelligent Vehicle Architecture (VIVA, S40, V50)
• 2003 Rear seat belt reminders (in S40 and V50)
• 2003 IDIS – Intelligent Driver Information System (in S40 and V50)
• 2003 Inauguration of Volvo's Traffic Accident Research Team in Bangkok
• 2004 BLIS – Blind Spot Information System (in S40 and V50)
• 2005 Introduction of DMIC (Door Mounted Inflatable Curtain, new Volvo C70)
• 2006 PCC – Personal Car Communicator (S80)
• 2006 CWBS – Collision Warning with Brake Support (S80)
• 2007 PPB – Power Park Brake (S80)
• 2007 DAC – Driver Alert Control (V70, XC70)
• 2009 City Safety – Automatically stop car at speeds below 19 mph (31 km/h) if obstruction is detected in front of car (XC60)
• 2010 Pedestrian Detection with auto brake (New S60)

Car models

1927 Volvo ÖV 4

Volvo PV544

Early years

• Volvo ÖV 4, a.k.a. Jakob
• Volvo PV650 Series
• Volvo TR670 Series
• Volvo PV 36 Carioca
• Volvo PV51
• Volvo PV800 Series (civilian (PV801, PV802, PV810, PV821, PV822 and PV831) and military (TP21/P2104, P2104))
• Volvo PV 60
• Volvo PV444/544
• Volvo Duett (Volvo PV445, P210)
• Volvo P1900
• Volvo Amazon/Volvo 122
• Volvo P1800
• Volvo 66
• Volvo C202
• Volvo C3-series (C303, C304 and C306)

Tri-digit nomenclature

Starting with the 140 series in 1966, Volvo used a tri-digit system for their cars. The first number was the series, the second number the number of cylinders and the third number the number of doors; so a 164 was a 1-series with a 6-cylinder engine and 4-doors. However, there were exceptions to this rule—the 780 for example, came with turbocharged I4 and naturally-aspirated V6 petrol engines and I6 diesel engines, but never an eight cylinder as the 8 would suggest. Similarly, the 760 often was equipped with a turbocharged I4 engine and the Volvo 360 only had four cylinders. Some 240GLT had a V6 engine. The company dropped the meaning of the final digit for later cars like the 740, but the digit continued to identify cars underhood on the identification plate. Volvo Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN codes) had always been given YV1 symbolizing Sweden, Volvo, and Volvo Car Corp

• Volvo 140 (Volvo 142, Volvo 144, Volvo 145)
• Volvo 164
• Volvo 240 (Volvo 242, 244, 245)
• Volvo 260 (Volvo 262C, 264, 265)
• Volvo 340 (Volvo 343, 345)
• Volvo 360
• Volvo 440
• Volvo 460
• Volvo 480
• Volvo 740
• Volvo 760
• Volvo 780
• Volvo 850
• Volvo 940
• Volvo 960

Current models

Today, the company uses a system of letters denoting body style followed by the series number. S stands for saloon or sedan, C stands for coupé or convertible and V stands for versatile as in estate car. XC stands for cross country originally added to a more rugged V70 model as the V70XC and indicates all wheel drive paired with a raised suspension to give it a mock SUV look. Volvo would later change the name to the XC70 in keeping with its car naming consistent with the XC90. So a V50 is an estate ("V") that is smaller than the V70.

Originally, Volvo was planning a different naming scheme. S and C were to be the same, but "F", standing for flexibility, was to be used on station wagons. When Volvo introduced the first generation S40 and V40 at Frankfurt in 1994, they were announced as the S4 and F4. However, Audi complained that it had inherent rights to the S4 name, since it names its sporty vehicles "S", and the yet-introduced sport version of the Audi A4 would have the S4 name. Volvo agreed to add a second digit, so the vehicles became the S40 and F40. However, that led to a complaint from Ferrari, who used the Ferrari F40 name on their legendary sports car. This led to Volvo switching the "F" to "V", for versatile.

1998 Volvo V70 estate

• Small Cars (Volvo P1 platform)
  • Volvo C30 2006-present (M/Y 2007–)
  • Volvo C70 2006-present (M/Y 2005–)
  • Volvo S40 2004–present (M/Y 2004–)
  • Volvo V50 2003–present (M/Y 2004–)

• Large Cars (Volvo P2 platform)
  • Volvo XC90 2002–present (M/Y 2003–)

• Large Cars (Volvo Y20 platform)
  • Volvo S60 2010– (M/Y 2010-)
  • Volvo S80 2006–present (M/Y 2007–)
  • Volvo V70 2007–present (M/Y 2008–)
  • Volvo XC60 2008–present (M/Y 2009–)
  • Volvo XC70 2007–present (M/Y 2008–)

Concept cars

• Volvo Venus Bilo (1933)
• Volvo Philip (1952)
• Volvo Margarete Rose (1953)
• Volvo Elisabeth I (1953)
• Volvo VESC (1972)
• Volvo 1800 ESC (1972)
• Volvo EC (1977)
• Volvo City Taxi (1977)
• Volvo Tundra (1979)
• Volvo VCC – Volvo Concept Car (1980)
• Volvo LCP2000 (1983)
• Volvo ECC – Environment Concept Car (1992)
• Volvo ACC – Adventure Concept Car (1997)
• Volvo SCC – Safety Concept Car (2001)
• Volvo PCC – Performance Concept Car (2001)
• Volvo PCC2 (2002)
• Volvo ACC2 (2002)
• Volvo VCC – Versatility Concept Car (2003)
• Volvo YCC – Your Concept Car (2004)
• Volvo T6 (2005)
• Volvo 3CC (2005)
• Volvo C30 Design Concept (2006)
• Volvo XC60 Concept (2006)
• Volvo ReCharge Concept (2007)
• Volvo S60 Concept (2008)

Alternative propulsion

The 2005 Volvo FlexiFuel S40 was one of the first E85 flex cars launched in the Swedish market by a domestic automaker. The Volvo FlexiFuel is now offered on the European market.

Flexible-fuel vehicles

In 2005 Volvo introduced to the Sweden market the company's first E85 flexifuel models. Volvo introduced its S40 and V50 with flexible-fuel engines, joined in late 2006 by the then new C30. All Volvo models were initially restricted to the Sweden market, until 2007, when these three models were launched in eight new European markets.^[49] In 2008 Volvo launched the V70 with a 2.5-litre turbocharged flexifuel engine.^[50]

Plug-in hybrids

The Volvo ReCharge is a plug-in hybrid concept car with an all-electric range (AER) of 60 miles (97 km). It was officially unveiled at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show.^[51]

On June 1, 2009, Volvo announced the launching of series production diesel-electric plug-in hybrids by 2012.^[52][53][54] The company plans to sell a series hybrid with the goal of achieving emissions of less than 50 grams of CO₂ per kilometer.^[53][54] Three Volvo V70 demonstrators will be converted to PHEVs during the 2009 summer to be tested in real world conditions. Among other challenges, this test will allow to experience the electric car range at low temperatures, which has been a disadvantage of plug-in vehicles.^[54][55] This is a joint venture with Vattenfall, a Swedish energy company. Vattenfall will offer Volvo customers the supply of renewable electricity generated from wind power or hydropower.^[55]

Production locations

• Gothenburg, Sweden (Volvo Cars Headquarters and Safety Center)
• Hällered, Sweden Volvo Test Track
• Torslanda, Sweden (Volvo Cars Torslanda) 1964–present
  • Volvo V70, Volvo XC70, Volvo S80, Volvo XC90, Starting in late 2010 Volvo V60.
• Uddevalla, Sweden (Pininfarina Sverige AB) 1989-present, since 2005 the factory is operated by Volvo Cars and Pininfarina
  • Volvo C70
• Ghent, Belgium (Volvo Cars Ghent) 1965-present
  • Volvo C30, Volvo S40, Volvo V50, Volvo S60, Volvo XC60
• Skövde, Sweden (Engines)
• Floby, Sweden (Engines)
• Olofström, Sweden (Body Components)

Assembly locations around the world:

• Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Swedish Motor Assemblies SDN BHD)
• Chongqing, China (the Volvo S40 and the Volvo S80L are produced in Ford's Chinese joint-venture plant with Changan Motors for the local market)

Volvo Cars have previously had production facilities on these locations:

• Pretoria, South Africa (Production cancelled in 2006 due to disputes in trade agreements between the EU and South Africa as well as decreased demand).
• Born, Netherlands (NedCar, fka Volvo Car B.V., 1972–2004) Sold in 2004 to Mitsubishi Motors
• Halifax, Canada (Volvo Halifax Assembly)
• Kalmar, Sweden (1972–1994)
• Köping, Sweden (Sold to Getrag GmbH)
• Samutprakarn, Thailand (Thai-Swedish Assembly Company Limited) Sold in 2008 to AB Volvo

There are reports that, after being acquired by Geely, Volvo is looking into building a new plant in China that could double its annual global production.^[56]

Engine types

Volvo uses in-line, or straight engines in their production vehicles. Volvo is also known for the application of the in-line 5-cylinder engine to its vehicle line up since its introduction in 1993 in the Volvo 850.

• Side valve six – fitted into the PV651/2, TR671/4, PV653/4, TR676/9, PV658/9, PV36, PV51/2, PV53/6, PV801/2, PV821/2, PV831/2 and PV60 from 1929 to 1958
• B4B and B14A – fitted into the Volvo PV and Volvo Duett from 1947 to 1956
• B16 (A and B) – fitted into the PV, Duett and Volvo Amazon from 1957 to 1960
• B18 and B20 – 1.8 L/2.0 L OHV 8v fitted into all Volvo models from 1961 to 1974 except 164 (and 1975 U.S. Spec 240 models).
• B19,   B21,   and B23 – fitted from 1975
• B200 and B230 – 2.0 L and 2.3 L, respectively, SOHC 8v fitted to 240, 360, 700, 940 series cars from 1985
• B204 and B234 – 2.0 L and 2.3 L DOHC 16 valve engines
• B27/B28 and B280 – 2.7 and 2.8 L SOHC 12v developed together with Renault and Peugeot
• B30 – fitted to all 164 models

Transmissions

Volvo automatic transmissions in the past were made by the ZF Friedrichshafen company, but now the transmissions are co-developed with Aisin of Japan. Geartronic is Volvo Cars' name for its manumatic transmission.

• Volvo AW70 transmission
• Volvo AW71 transmission
• Volvo AW72 transmission
• Volvo M30 transmission
• Volvo M40 transmission
• Volvo M400 transmission
• Volvo M410 transmission
• Volvo M41 transmission
• Volvo M45 transmission
• Volvo M46 transmission
• Volvo M47 transmission
• Volvo M50 transmission
• Volvo M51 transmission
• Volvo M56 transmission
• Volvo M58 transmission
• Volvo M59 transmission
• Volvo M66 transmission
• IB5
• MTX75
• MMT6
• Volvo M90 transmission
• Volvo ZF4HP22 transmission
• AW50-42 (4-speed automatic, FWD/AWD)
• AW55-50/51 (5-speed automatic, FWD/AWD)
• GM4T65EV/GT (4-Speed GM automatic, FWD/AWD)
• AWTF-80 SC (6-speed automatic, FWD/AWD)
• MPS6 (6-speed dual clutch Powershift, FWD)

Sales

Volvo Cars sales during 2009 (2008).^[1]

By market

1. United States 61,426 (73,078)
2. Sweden 41,826 (47,775)
3. United Kingdom 34,371 (33,341)
4. Germany 25,221 (27,053)
5. China 22,405 (12,640)
6. Italy 15,896 (16,653)
7. Netherlands 14,035 (16,742)
8. Belgium 13,223 (12,872)
9. France 11,596 (11,745)
10. Spain 8,306 (9,876)
Others: 86,503 (112,522)

By model

1. XC60 61,667
2. V50 54,062
3. V70 45,836
4. S40 36,954
5. XC90 32,754
6. C30 32,409
7. S80 28,171
8. XC70 18,032
9. S60 14,131
10. C70 10,792

Marketing

The symbol for Mars has been used since ancient times to represent iron.

The name Volvo, is Latin for "I roll".

Logo

The Volvo symbol is an ancient chemistry sign for iron. The iron sign is used to symbolize the strength of iron used in the car as Sweden is known for its quality iron. The diagonal line (a strip of metal) across the grille came about to hold the actual symbol, a circle with an arrow, in front of the radiator.

A model of a Volvo XC90 made of Lego pieces on display at Volvo Ocean Race – 2006 in Baltimore Inner Harbor

Sponsorship

Volvo entered the European Touring Car Championship with the Volvo 240 in the mid-80s. The cars also entered the Guia Race, part of the Macau Grand Prix in 1985, 1986 and 1987, winning in both 1985 and 1986.

Volvo also entered the British Touring Car Championship in the 90s with Tom Walkinshaw Racing. This partnership was responsible for the controversial 850 Estate racing car, which was only rendered uncompetitive when the FIA allowed the use of aerodynamic aids in 1995. TWR then built and ran the works 850 Saloon, six wins in 1995 and five wins in 1996, and S40, one wins in 1997 in the BTCC. In 1998, TWR Volvo won the British Touring Car Championship with Rickard Rydell driving the S40R.

In 2008 Volvo entered the Swedish Touring Car Championship with a C30 powered by bioethanol E85 fuel. Robert Dahlgreen and Tommy Rustad were the drivers, finishing 5th and 10th respectively in the championship. Volvo have also signalled their intentions to enter the 2009 British Touring Car Championship with the same car.^[57]

The Volvo trademark is now jointly owned (50/50) by Volvo Group and Volvo Car Corporation. One of the main promotional activities for the brand is the sailing Race Volvo Ocean Race, formerly known as the Whitbread Around the World Race. There is also a Volvo Baltic Race and Volvo Pacific Race, and Volvo likes to encourage its affluent image by sponsoring golf tournaments all over the world including major championship events called the Volvo Masters and Volvo China Open.

Volvo sponsored the Volvo Ocean Race, the world's leading round-the-world yacht race for the first time in 2001–2002. The next edition is taking place between 2011 and 2012. Volvo has also had a long-standing commitment to the ISAF and is involved in the Volvo/ISAF World Youth Sailing Championships since 1997.

Volvo has since the 1950s had special international sales programs for customers assigned abroad, for example Diplomat Sales, Military Sales and Expat Sales.

See also

• Jan Wilsgaard
• The Saint (TV series)
• British Touring Car Championship (BTCC)
• Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR)
• Volvo – The Game

References

External links

• VolvoCars.com – Official Volvo Cars web site