Facebook Volvo Concept Universe: A dropped plan

According to Automotive News, CEO Stefan Jacoby at the Shanghai auto show, “It is not in our midterm or long-term strategy right now,” Geely chairman, Li Shufu had advocated a move upscale for Volvo so it could compete with German luxury brands. For that reason, Volvo is focused on investing up to $11 billion to […]

According to Automotive News, CEO Stefan Jacoby at the Shanghai auto show, “It is not in our midterm or long-term strategy right now,” Geely chairman, Li Shufu had advocated a move upscale for Volvo so it could compete with German luxury brands.

For that reason, Volvo is focused on investing up to $11 billion to redesign products and build production capacity in China. It will build an assembly plant in the city of Chengdu and will decide in a few months whether to build a second Chinese plant, Jacoby said. He did not indicate the cost of the Chengdu plant, which is scheduled to open in 2013.

Already, much was expected from the new concept from Volvo and here are comments from Volvo’s own admirers, “Can’t help but feel that Volvo is circling the drain at this point. Seems to be loosing the sedan wars. It’s SUV’s seem to be selling well–but they are overpriced and I wonder how long they can exist as a company with only two moderately successful models (XC60+XC90). I used to crave a V70 R, but now I don’t think I would trust a Chinese company to create a good, new product. If all Volvo is going to do is refine (rather than innovate/create), then they are just prolonging the inevitable.”

On facebook, the ‘Concept Universe’ fan page has received favorable comments but sadly we won’t be seeing this idea in full utilization within the near future. We still welcome opinion from our readers on our facebook page, Sunday Trust Motoring.