American Volvo buyers/fans rejoice – it’s what you’ve been waiting for! As of 2015, you will be able to buy a Volvo-badged car made in China – the S60L (pictured), the long-wheelbase edition of the familiar Swedish sedan.
It’s going to be the first China-made car to be imported into the US, and at least it will be one with a recognizable badge.
Will this sit will with American buyers? We don’t know, but it is something that’s undeniably going to happen, according to Automotive News. The source article quotes Volvo CEO, Hakan Samuelsson, who, at a recent press event, said “we are not talking about 2020. We are talking about next year.”
Obviously not a clearly defined time frame, but what is clear from the report is that it’s definitely coming no matter what.
The cars will be built at a new plant in Chengdu, where production is set to be ramped up to 120,000 units per year as of October.
What’s interesting is that Volvo will be merging the particularities and needs of the US and Chinese markets into one single direction designed to please both.
We were also left wondering by the final quoted statement from Samuelsson, who, the source says, was referring to the vehicle that is set to replace the final dinosaur in Volvo’s range, the S80. He said “The next time we present a car you will be surprised. We will take a big step forward in the sedan.”
Photo Gallery
