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Ford Officially Looking To Sell Volvo
Report: Ford Considering Sale of Volvo

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Six Flags Over Tomsk
12/01/08

In reply to Ford Officially Looking To Sell Volvo
Maybe NPR could buy them. Vertical integration FTW!
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Graverobber
12/01/08

In reply to Ford Officially Looking To Sell Volvo
It's a shame to see Ford lose one more feather in their cap, Volvo is a well respected brand, and Ford has been a good steward of the make, unlike GM Opelfying Saab. Still, Ford hasn't gotten much from the Swedish company. The Volvo-based cars (500/Taurus, Freebase/Taurus X, that giant mini-looking thing) haven't exactly lit up the sales charts. Also, Volvo hasn't made money since Ford took them over, so It's just a big, safe albatross hanging around the Blue Oval's neck.
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philibuster
12/01/08

@graverobber- My Yugo Nova!: What about the Euro cars? Mondeo and Focus are on Volvo or Volvo-jointly designed platforms. Those are profitable.
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Graverobber
12/01/08

@philibuster: I think you have it backwards. The Volvo S40 and V50 and C30 are all on the Euro-Focus platform, which is shared with the Mazda 3, and was co-developed by Ford and Mazda.

I don't believe that the Mondeo is Volvo-based, but I could be wrong on that one.
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oddboxalfa
12/01/08

In reply to Ford Officially Looking To Sell Volvo
I would like to see FIAT buy Volvo only for one reason. In the states, Fiat could use the Volvo dealer network to sell Alfa Romeos, which really need a decent network of dealers to become at all meaningful here. Selling 80 examples of a $200k car at a Maseratti dealer will not make for a great Alfa comback. Volvo cars would compliment the more exciting $40-60k Alfas.
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DoctorNine
12/01/08

@oddboxalfa: You know, that's the best idea I've heard all day.
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TurboBrick [LIGIER]
12/01/08

In reply to Ford Officially Looking To Sell Volvo
Volvo and Renault did a lot of work together in the past, i.e. PRV, the 300/400 series powertrains, the first piece that fell off my 760 was "Made in France" and my Renault had Volvo branded relays etc. in it. Both have made significant commitments towards vehicle safety. The lineups are compatible even in the European market, as Renault builds the more eccentric vehicles, Nissan builds the boring cars and Volvo can be the near-lux brand, with Infiniti on the top.

Fiat is trying to build up Lancia as their better brand and VWorsche is starting to look like GM with multiple divisions. If someone is going to buy them it'll be Renault/Nissan or some Asian company looking to pad their safety resume. How much money does Hyundai have? I'd like to see a 2nd gen Genesis on a platform co-developed with Volvo and RWD V8olvo spun out of it...
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MushyHeirloom
12/01/08

@TurboBrick: I'd spin it as "Volvo does safe luxury, Infiniti goes for sport-lux, eats the Maxima badge".
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Serious Mopar Jones- Incurable
12/01/08

In reply to Ford Officially Looking To Sell Volvo
Meh- there's only ever been one Ford/Volvo joint production that I care about, anyway..

Auto engineers take note- Route to success = less side-curtain airbags, more vacuum-operated skulls.

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Bumblebee
12/01/08

@Slantsick: Dammit, I wish I could be as cool as that car.

Sigh.
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DoctorNine
12/01/08

@Slantsick- on layaway at SPATULA CITY: "..Auto engineers take note- Route to success = less side-curtain airbags, more vacuum-operated skulls..."

COTD?
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Serious Mopar Jones- Incurable
12/01/08

@DoctorNine makes tires squeal in terror: Thanks for the vote, but it'll never happen. CsOTD almost invariably come from posts I don't read, and since I've not only read it but commented on it, by definition I can't win.
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MushyHeirloom
12/01/08

@Slantsick- on layaway at SPATULA CITY: Same here. Not that I've posted anything of merit today, anyway.

Happiness is a scruffy dog.
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Van Sarockin, rogue trebuchet
12/01/08

In reply to Ford Officially Looking To Sell Volvo
Bunch of maroons. With Volvo, Ford had a division that actually was what they never let Mercury be. And Ford helped Volvo shed some of the stodgy. The brands were a very good non-overlapping complement to each other. And Ford strip mined all of that Volvo safety cachet and tech. Not to mention some platforms.

Ford needs cash and to protect its core business. Do they really need it enough to sell of a performing asset that has great future prospects?

I'm not sure VW will be all that interested. The have the Passat, and all of Audi, plus large interests in MAN and Scania for the heavy truck side of things.
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Maxichamp
12/01/08

In reply to Ford Officially Looking To Sell Volvo
I say Volvo should go back to its roots and bring back the DAF!
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DoctorNine
12/01/08

In reply to Ford Officially Looking To Sell Volvo
Ford does need to generate cash. Personally, I would suspect they could get enough by selling hard assets, rather than jettison a profitable brand at bargain basement prices. If they just let Volvo be Volvo, and not push the Heavy Hand of Ford stuff, they should still have a profitable division bringing home the bacon.
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SuzanneD
12/01/08

In reply to Ford Officially Looking To Sell Volvo
Well ordinarily this is where I would cue up my chants of "Bring back the turbo brick" - but I gotta say, Ford has already gone this far in attempting to put a 21st century update on a stiff safety pin, so why give up now? The C30 is a damn cute little car and if Ford puts enough oompf behind it, the C30 has the potential to someday eat the Cooper for breakfast.
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SlowMo (actually, there's no E on my R)
12/01/08

@SuzanneD: Yeah, I love the look of the C30 but the reviews paint it as a real let down. Bummer.
I agree, they should make 'go fast' and 'eco-friendly' variants and go after the Mini-buyer market.
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Mad_Science
12/01/08

@SlowMo: Really wanted to like the C30, but when I sat in it at the LA show, it was a pretty big letdown.

Acres of black plastic, mediocre control surfaces and (worst of all) pedals that didn't allow for heel-toe-ing.

I think it's used Mini FTW.
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MarywithanM™
12/01/08

In reply to Ford Officially Looking To Sell Volvo
I wonder how Volvo is doing meeting the on-highway heavy duty truck emissions standards for 2010?

Anyone?
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UDMan
12/01/08

@MarywithanM: Well ahead of schedule. All of their trucks will have their emission controls using Urea. 2010 Emission trucks are currently undergoing testing with no major problems so far. UD Trucks will also have Volvo Power for the 2010 emission standards (just in case you wanted to know).
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JC Whitless
12/01/08

In reply to Ford Officially Looking To Sell Volvo
Who would want to buy/manage/work at Volvo Dealership/Factory/HQ?

It sounds like a self cervix station.
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jaydez
12/01/08

In reply to Ford Officially Looking To Sell Volvo
Ford has safe cars becasue of Volvo and fun to drive cars because of Mazda.

The guys at Ford are morons for getting rid of either of the comopanies... they need to keep Volvo if only for the engineering the contribute to Ford.

What Ford needs to do is have 3 compaies under the corporate umbrella: Ford, Volvo and Mazda.
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sos10
12/01/08

@jaydez: The whole Volvo = Safe thing was somehow true in the 1970's and early 80's, but Volvo's of the last 20 years are as safe as any other modern car, or less.
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MushyHeirloom
12/01/08

@jaydez: ...but not Mercury.

@EndlessMike: If it were, y'know, actually possible, I'd be tempted to tell 'em where to stick their investments. Pity it's not exactly practical to do so.
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Syrax
12/01/08

In reply to Ford Officially Looking To Sell Volvo
Volvo Group said they don't want it back, and I think Porsche won't let VWAG touch it's portfolio.
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Ash78, tryptophanatic
12/01/08

In reply to Ford Officially Looking To Sell Volvo
I see it now.

Wolfsburg (AFP) - Volkswagen AG announced today that it is considering the purchase of Volvo Car Corporation from Ford Motor Company for an undisclosed amount in cash, shares, and unmarked gold. VW CEO Marvin Sommerkorn stated, "The purchase of Volvo represents an ideal diversification move for the Volkswagen family, allowing us to offer cars of lesser quality than VW, while charging Audi-like prices for them."

Volkswage is Europe's largest carmaker and remains profitable, despite a global automotive slowdown. Sommerkorn continued, "Our analysts and investment bankers unanimously agree that this would result in immediate profitability, as VW would be able to better penetrate the Frigid MILF and Codependent Douchebag markets. While existing VW and Audi brands have had some success with these groups in the past, our current brands tend to offer too much value for deep-pocketed, vapid, and image-conscious suburbanites."

Sommerkorn also indicated plans to clear existing Volvo inventory with a combination of financial incentives and free "Kerry 04" and "Coexist" bumper stickers for prospective buyers.
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sos10
12/01/08

@The Name's Ash78, Housewares: nice one, Ash.
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scroggzilla raids again
12/01/08

In reply to Ford Officially Looking To Sell Volvo
.....(crosses fingers)......c'mon Volvo Truck Company!
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