The Swedish automobile company Volvo is now owned by the Chinese automaker Geely. Acquisition agreement for a well-known car brand American giant Ford signed on Sunday. The deal amounted to almost two billion dollars.
1.8 billion dollars - this is the price of enterprises producing passenger cars under one of the most famous European brands. For the Swedes, this is unlikely to be a blow to national pride, because Volvo is not sold for the first time. In 1999, the company became part of the Ford Corporation, and it cost the Americans 3.5 times more than the Chinese - $6.5 billion. The crisis forced to dump excess assets - one of them was the Swedish brand.
"The main goal of the deal is to find a new owner who shares Ford's vision for the future of Volvo. We needed to find a new owner who can grow the business while also taking special care of the unique features of the Swedish brand. And who also treats employees responsibly." company and the society we work in. We have found, and I am pleased to announce this, such an owner in the person of Geely"says Lewis Booth, Vice President Ford.
It didn't take long to find it. There were talks about plans to sell Volvo back in 2008, but there was no buyer. Negotiations lasted almost two years, as a result, the Chinese promised to preserve the Swedish image of the car company as much as possible.
"Volvo will be managed by Volvo management. The company will be given independence in a strategic perspective. It will operate according to its own business plan. We are determined to maintain the brand identity and see Volvo as a Swedish company with strong Scandinavian traditions," assures Li Shufu, Chairman of Geely.
Executives will not have to pack their bags - the headquarters remains in Gothenburg. At first glance, according to the results of the transaction, Volvo will not decrease, but will increase. Factories in Sweden and Belgium will continue to assemble cars, but they will be joined by production in China.
Geely's plans are not ambitious, they are simply grandiose. Now the Swedish manufacturer assembles about 300,000 cars a year - a new plant in China should do the same. And this is only the Volvo brand - the total production of the concern will be in the millions.
"We set a goal to achieve the production of two million cars a year by 2015. This is Geely's strategic plan. Our positions are strongest in Russia and Ukraine. In Ukraine, in particular, we launched the assembly of one of our company's models there," says Zhang Nenger , a Geely employee.
Acquisition of a well-known brand raises prestige Chinese car industry. Volvo will open a more expensive segment of the European market, its sales network, to manufacturers from the Middle Kingdom. The Chinese even managed to persuade the union, at first it was categorically against the deal. But after lengthy discussions, trade unionists changed their anger to mercy. As they themselves explain, after having familiarized themselves with financial plans Geely.
“I believe the company has the strength and room to grow, and I look to the future positively. Geely is able to make Volvo a profitable enterprise again,” says Søren Carlson, head of the Volvo Workers Union local branch.
In Sweden, 16,000 people work at Volvo factories, and another 6,000 work outside the kingdom. The head of the company, Li Shufu, personally persuaded the leaders of the trade union. But now, after the signing, component suppliers got nervous, their technologies will become available to the Chinese, which probably means no explanation. Auto experts can only argue which is better - the future under the Chinese flag or the curtailment of production, as happens with the no less legendary Hummer brand. Indeed, after the failure of the deal with representatives of the Chinese auto industry, General Motors decided to say goodbye to this brand altogether.
Do you know where Volvo is made? The country of origin of this car deserves all the praise. It is produced in Sweden. The car is produced by the Swedish concern Aktiebolaget Volvo. The concern is engaged in commercial and engines and various equipment. Previously, passenger cars could also be purchased from the Volvo concern. Unfortunately, in 1999, the passenger car branch was sold to the Ford concern, called Volvo Personvagnar. In turn, Ford assigned it to Geely.
The headquarters of the concern is located in the Swedish city of Gothenburg. From Latin "volvo" is translated as "I roll" or "I rotate".
history of the company
The company was founded by Assar Gabrielson and Gustaf Larson in 1915. In fact, it was a subsidiary of the popular bearing manufacturer SKF. First production car Jakob OV 4 left the factory gates on April 14, 1927. She had an engine with a capacity of 28 Horse power And top speed 90 km/h
The country of origin of the Volvo car is beautiful! Who becomes the president of the concern in 1956? Of course, Gunnar Ingellau! He is a doctor of mechanical engineering and economic sciences. During his tenure, the company flourished. Export to the USA starts in 1956. In the United States in 1957, 5,000 Volvo cars were sold. The volume of car production is increasing. In 1956, 31,000 copies were made, and in 1971, 205,000 units were produced.
Country of origin "Volvo" has temperate climate mainly due to the Gulf Stream. It is very pleasant to work here. It should be added that Nils Ivar Bolin also worked tirelessly at Volvo. He is the inventor of the three-point seat belt. The Volvo PV 444 and P120 Amazon brands were equipped with this element for the first time in the world.
Model P1800 is made in the form of a double sports coupe. It was released in 1960. And the production of the Volvo-144 began in 1966. It was this model that was equipped with a dual-circuit brake working system. And it was here that the deformable zones of the body were installed. This is an amazing Volvo! What country-manufacturer is able to invent such a candy? Of course, only Sweden.
In 1976, the creators of Volvo developed oxygen sensors Lambda Sond. In the same year, exhaust gas was generated.
The passenger department of Volvo Personvagnar was sold to Ford in 1999. The concern was able to sell the division for $6.45 billion. Volvo Personvagnar AB is known in the US as Volvo Cars. And since 1999, this branch has been transformed into a division of the Ford concern. But in December 2009 year Ford announces the sale of Volvo Personvagnar AB to China's Zhejiang Geely Automobile. The branch is now worth $1.8 billion. On March 29, 2010, the Chinese enterprise officially signs the documents. These are purchase papers. Volvo brand Cars from Ford Motor. The transaction was completed on August 2, 2010.
Management and owners
Why does everyone choose Volvo? The country of origin knows the answer to this question. To do this, you need to find out who is the largest shareholder of the AB Volvo concern? Of course, the Chinese concern Geely. Until 2010, Renault S.A. owned about 20% of the company's shares. She was then the largest owner. In 2012, these shares were acquired by the Chinese concern Geely.
Louis Schweitzer is Chairman of the Board of Directors of this excellent organization. And Leif Johansson holds the positions of executive head and president at the same time.
Organization's activities
On this moment the Volvo concern supplies trucks to the Swedes. In addition to trucks, the company supplies construction equipment, buses, systems marine engines, financial services and space components.
In general, the Volvo brand is owned by the Geely holding. The Volvo Group also manages the following brands:
- Renault Trucks.
- Nissan Diesel.
- Mac.
- Prevost.
- Nova bus.
The holding consists of nine production companies and eleven business divisions.
Volvo in Russia
The official sale of Volvo cars in the USSR started in 1989. It should be noted that the much-needed Sovtransavto have been purchased since 1973.
Trademark "Volvo" ... The country of origin is located in Northern Europe, in the center of civilization. Currently, the Volvo concern in Russia is represented by CJSC Volvo Vostok and OOO VFS Vostok.
Volvo has built a new plant in Kaluga. The launch of this production took place on January 19, 2009. The production capacity of this plant is very high. It is 15,000 trucks per year. The installation of Volvo FM models is planned here. This is the first full-scale production of a commercial trucks foreign brand in the Russian state. A little later, Volvo Truck Center-Kaluga was built on the Volvo factory territory. This center opened in the summer of 2009. Volvo Holding has adopted a comprehensive transport solution. Now production, sales and service are all done in one place.
Corporation
Consider one of the industrial companies owned by the Volvo concern. The country of origin, Sweden, is proud of its brainchild, its carmaker. Volvo Trucks Corporation is one of the world's top manufacturers of heavy trucks. This company was founded by Gustaf Larson and Assar Gabrielson in 1916. It is a subsidiary of the popular bearing manufacturer SKF.
Outside the gates of the factory first stock car left in 1927. The company gained complete independence from SKF in 1935.
In early 1928, the first truck appeared. It was called "LV series 1" and was an incredible success. It was equipped with a two-liter four-cylinder engine. Engine power was 28 horsepower.
Can anyone forget the Volvo? The country of origin will, on occasion, remind you of this concern. Indeed, in terms of volume in the world market, it is in second place. In 2006 Volvo Trucks sold 105,519 trucks.
Volvo trucks are considered comfortable and safe. The global international corporation Volvo Trucks Corporation includes industrial and design centers located in the USA, Brazil, Sweden and Belgium. It includes an incredible number of assembly firms around the world. Some enterprises represent the corporation as a co-founder along with local production groups. Of course, there are organizations directly owned by the Volvo Group.
Renault Trucks in Russia
The first Renault trucks appeared in Russia in 1912. IN Russian Empire the war ministry organized a run, and Renault took part in it.
In 2012, Renault Trucks celebrated its 100th anniversary on the Russian market. The company owns its own production workshop at the Volvo plant in Kaluga. In 2009, the production of the Premium Route tractor began. Today, heavy trucks of the Premium and Kerax models are assembled at the plant. At the end of 2014, it is planned to start production of the latest model line Renault Trucks trucks.
And in June 2013, an unforgettable ceremony was held in the Kaluga region. The foundation stone of the future plant was laid. It is planned to manufacture cabs for Volvo and Renault trucks at this enterprise.
The Volvo concern, which has proved itself as a manufacturer of high-quality and reliable technology, is one of the most influential representatives in Europe, in particular in the premium car segment. It has several factories specializing in the production of different cars. Model XC90 for Russia is assembled in Sweden and Belgium. Chinese-assembled cars are sold in the Asian market.
In the period from 2000 to 2007, the Swedish brand practically did not develop, offering customers old models with a limited list of engines. The following year was a defining year for the company and served as the starting point for its further successful development. This is due to the conclusion of an alliance with the Chinese Geely. In fact, the Chinese bought the Swedish company, but the agreement still looks like a merger.
The Chinese manufacturer has committed itself not to change the name of the Volvo brand, to leave Sweden as the country of manufacture, and also not to use the developments of the Swedes for Gelly models.
In which countries are Volvo cars assembled?
There is a misconception that Volvo cars are assembled in Norway, Switzerland and even Germany. In fact, the main European production capacity brands are concentrated in the Swedish city of Torslanda, as well as the Belgian Ghent.
Until 2013, an enterprise in Uddevalla operated in Sweden, where the C70 model was produced. Other assembly companies Volvo cars not in Europe. In China, the assembly of Swedish cars is organized at a factory in Chengdu.
After the merger with the Chinese Geely, production in Gothenburg did not decrease, but even increased. This was facilitated by significant Chinese investment.
Merging benefits:
- Significant investments have made it possible to develop new vehicles, technologies and expand the lineup brand.
- Allowed to exchange experience with designers from Geely.
- The Chinese market opened up for Volvo, where its products were exempted from duties.
- The staff of the enterprise has expanded, production lines have been updated and automated.
Second generation Volvo XC90
Initially, the company planned to release the new XC90 in 2009-2010, but due to the merger with Geely, the deadline was postponed.
The world debut of the model took place in 2014, and the serial production at the plant in Gothenburg. The first cars arrived to their customers in the spring of 2015. For the brand's birthday, the Swedes released special version under the name First Edition with a circulation of 1927 units.
The cars sold out in 47 hours.
In 2016, the model was awarded the North American SUV award. The winner is determined by a commission of independent journalists. A similar success experienced the previous version of the car in 2003. In addition, the crossover showed top scores in its class according to Euro Ncap.
Volvo was founded in 1915 in the Swiss city of Gothenburg as a subsidiary of SKF, a manufacturer of bearings. It was founded by former college classmates Assar Gabrielson, an SKF employee, and Gustav Larson. The idea to go into the car business came to young engineers in a restaurant, drinking beer and crayfish. After some time, the SKF management approved their idea and allocated funds for the development and production of the first cars. The name Volvo is derived from the Latin verb volvete, which means "I roll." The Volvo emblem is a symbol of iron and the god of war Mars, who fought exclusively with iron weapons. The associations that this emblem is supposed to give rise to are reliability and durability. In 1927, the first Volvo car appeared - a phaeton with open top And four-cylinder engine. It was called OV4, and also had an unofficial name - Jacob. It was not just the first Volvo car, but the first car made in Sweden. The Volvo Jacob had a powerful beech and ash chassis and sprung seats, a rarity in cars of the 1930s. Engine power of 28 hp could accelerate the car to 90 km / h. In 1928, Volvo released its first sedan - PV4, and two years later - its modification PV651, with six-cylinder engine with a capacity of 55 liters. With. This model was used as a taxi in Sweden. In the same year, the first Volvo truck– Type 1. At the Stockholm Motor Show in 1944, Volvo introduced the PV444. This passenger model became " people's car» in Sweden, which was due to high quality at low cost. It was originally planned to assemble 8000 cars, however, due to great demand Volvo produced 200,000 vehicles. At the same exhibition, the first bus of the company was presented - PV60, with a diesel engine. In 1951, Volvo switches to conveyor production. In the same year saw the light of the first family car Volvo Duet.
In the 1980s, the company began production of a new generation of cars. They are modern in design and more powerful engines, which have been modified to reduce fuel consumption. The main model of the 80s was the 760 sedan, which was equipped with six-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines. Up to 100 km / h, it accelerated in 13 seconds. 
Today, Volvo is owned by the Chinese concern Geely, which bought it from Ford in 2010 for $1.8 billion. However, Volvo's headquarters remained in Gothenburg. 
TechnologiesVolvo
Throughout its history, Volvo has paid Special attention development of safety technologies. This Swedish manufacturer was the first to equip its cars with three-point seat belts, triplex laminated windshields and lambda probes - sensors that help reduce exhaust emissions. In the 1970s, Volvo developed the world's first child protection system - an additional pillow and a special child seat that was installed against the movement of the car. Much earlier than other companies, Volvo began to use its own innovative safety solutions on their cars, for example, or the City Safety system, which prevents collisions at low speed.Volvoin motorsport
Since 2007, the team has been taking part in the world championship in road racing among touring cars. Best Achievement- 11th place in the overall standings in 2011. Periodically, Volvo exhibits its cars at the famous Dakar rally marathon. In 1983, the team won the small truck class. In addition, the Volvo concern participates in the European Truck Racing Championship. Renault-branded cars, which are produced at Volvo factories, won in 2010 and 2011. Interesting Facts Volvo is the first company in the world to set up its own dedicated accident investigation team. Based on the data from this unit, new security systems are being developed for Swedish cars. The Volvo P1800, assembled in 1966, entered the Guinness Book of Records as the car with the most high mileage. It amounted to 4,200,000 km. The King of Sweden, Carl Gustav, travels on the roads in a small hatchback.
Volvoin Russia
The history of Volvo in Russia began in 1973, when the state-owned company Sovtransavto purchased Swedish trucks for international transport. The representative office of the brand was opened in Russia in 1994. Especially popular in the 90s were the models and V40 KOMBI. In the 2000s, S-series sedans were running models in Russia. Swedish cars have become popular among Russian car enthusiasts due to their classic design, high quality and reliability. These factors even influenced the formation of such a concept among motorists as Volvo - the driver. This was the name of a motorist who was not in a hurry, observing the rules of the road, appreciating comfort and safety.
The machines were well suited for operation in difficult weather conditions of the country. In addition, their low cost in comparison with cars of competing brands ensured their success. Russian market a large selection of Volvo cars is presented: the C70 hardtop coupe, sedans and , V60 and V80 station wagons, as well as all-wheel drive crossovers XC60, XC70 and . Over the past six years, Russians have been buying about 20,000 Swedish cars a year. The most popular model is the XC90. Sales of this crossover account for about 30% of all models presented today. The company has a small truck assembly plant in Zelenograd. In addition, in 2009, a Volvo Trucks plant was opened in the Kaluga region, which produces up to fifteen thousand trucks a year. Volvo does not plan to open factories for the production of passenger cars in Russia yet. Volvo means "I'm rolling" in Latin, and the circle of arrows is just a convenient symbol for steel, Sweden's biggest industry before iKEA. The circle and arrow symbolize the shield and spear of Mars, which are also alchemical symbols for iron.
In 1924, at the Stockholm restaurant Sturehof on July 25 - the day that is called Jacob's Day in the Swedish calendar - Assar Gabrielsson and Gustaf Larson decided to create Volvo.
Volvo's birthday is April 14, 1927, the day the first car, called the Jakob, left the factory in Gothenburg. However real story The development of the concern began a few years later. The 1920s are characterized by the beginning of real development automotive industry simultaneously in the US and Europe. In Sweden, they really became interested in cars in 1923 after an exhibition in Gothenburg. In the early 1920s, 12,000 cars were imported into the country. In 1925 their number reached 14.5 thousand. On the international market, manufacturers, in pursuit of increasing their volumes, were not always selective in their approach to components, so the quality of the final product often left much to be desired, and as a result, many of these manufacturers quickly went bankrupt. For the creators of Volvo, the issue of quality was fundamental. Therefore, their main task was to make right choice among suppliers. In addition, tests were carried out after assembly. To this day, Volvo follows this principle.
Let's find out the history of this brand in more detail ...
1927
Volvo OV4 "The Jacob«
Creators of Volvo
Assar Gabrielsson and Gustaf Larson are the creators of Volvo. Assar Gabrielsson - son of Gabriel Gabrielsson, office manager, and Anna Larson - was born on August 13, 1891 in Kosberg, Skaraborg county. He graduated from the Higher Latin School Norra in Stockholm in 1909. He received a bachelor's degree in economics and business from the School of Economics in Stockholm in 1911. After working as an official and stenographer in the lower house of the Swedish Parliament, Gabrielsson got a job as a sales manager at SKF in 1916. He founded Volvo and served as president until 1956.
Gustaf Larson - the son of Lars Larson, a farmer, and Hilda Magnesson - was born on July 8, 1887 in Vintros, County of Erebro. In 1911 he graduated from the technical primary school in Erebro; received an engineering degree from the Royal Institute of Technology in 1917. In England from 1913 to 1916 he worked as a design engineer for White and Popper Ltd.
After graduating from the Royal Institute of Technology, Gustaf Larson worked for SKF as manager and chief engineer of the firm's transmission department in Gothenburg and Katrinholm from 1917 to 1920. He worked as a plant manager and later as technical director and executive vice president of Nya AB Gaico with 1920 to 1926 Collaborated with Assar Gabrielsson to create Volvo. From 1926 to 1952 - technical director and executive vice president of Volvo.
The history of Volvo began with crayfish
According to the book Volvo Cars, the history of Volvo begins in June 1924, when Assar Gabrielson, the future managing director of the brand, accidentally met in a cafe with a former college classmate Gustav Larson, who would later become Volvo's technical director. That day in a cafe they talked for a short time, and Gabrielson proposed the idea of creating an enterprise for the production of cars. Gustav Larson agreed that they should have discussed this topic in more detail, but he considered the proposal itself hardly serious and did not give it special significance. Maybe this idea would not have developed if they had not met for the second time in August of that year.
This is how Gustav Larson describes this meeting, recalling Assar Gabrielson (the article was published in Volvo magazine after Gabrielsson's death in 1962): “I happened to be walking past the Sture-hof restaurant. I saw an advertisement for fresh crayfish and decided to go inside, where I saw Gabriel sitting alone in front of a mountain of red crayfish. I joined him and we set about the crayfish with great gusto." So they sat at the same table. Gabrielson had an excellent opportunity to re-discuss his idea. The verbal agreement that they reached in August 1924 took the form of a formalized document on December 16, 1925.
This document proclaimed the following: "I, Gabrielson, intending to create a car manufacturing company in Sweden, make an offer to G. Larson to cooperate with me as an engineer." "I, Larson, accept this offer." Gustav Larson had to develop a new car. The remuneration for this work would be from 5,000 to 20,000 SEK, provided that production reached an industrial level - at least 100 cars a year by January 1, 1928. If the target level of production was not reached, Larson agreed not to claim any what payment. Drawings of the chassis of the new car were ready already six months before the signing of this agreement.
On April 14, 1927, the first mass-produced Volvo car was born - it was the year of birth automotive industry in Sweden. On that day, the gates of the factory on the island of Hisingen, Gothenburg, opened wide. The first Volvo car drove out of the gate. It was an open-top chaise with a four-cylinder engine. Sales manager Hilmer Johansson was driving.
When designing it, the designer Mass-Olle (Mass-Olle) was guided by American methods. The car was equipped with a 1.9-liter 4-cylinder engine with side valves. Under the designation "OV-4" it was offered with an open body, the "PV-4" was a sedan.
The short drive to where the press was waiting for the car was uneventful. But the night before was not an easy one for those in charge of assembling the car. The last parts needed for assembly had arrived by train from Stockholm the previous evening. The haste that accompanied the assembly of the car made itself felt: when engineer Eric Carlberg decided to inspect and check the car in the morning, it turned out that he could only move backwards. The main component in the gearbox rear axle was set incorrectly. Such a beginning was taken as a good omen: from now on, the movement should have been only in the forward direction.
The car was called simply and uncomplicated - ÖV4 and had an affectionate nickname Jacob (Jacob). The letters ÖV denoted that the model was an open top car, and the number 4 denoted the number of engine cylinders. The Volvo Jacob was American designed, with a powerful chassis and independent suspension with long leaf springs front and rear. The engine developed a power of 28 hp. at 2000 rpm. The maximum speed of the car was quite decent for that time - 90 km / h.
At first, Swedish buyers were not eager to snap up new cars.
The four-hole car body was painted in dark blue color, and black mudguards stood out against this background. Jacob's open 5-seater body had four doors and was constructed from sheet steel on an ash and copper beech frame. The upholstery was leather, the front panel was wood. Unlike the seats in many other cars, the seats of the first Volvo were sprung. The structure of the wheel of this car was a removable rim, which was mounted on varnished wooden spokes. Among the minor luxuries in the cabin could be seen small vase for flowers, an ashtray and (in the sedan modification) curtains on all windows.
New car with a phaeton body it cost 4800 crowns, and a little later the PV4 sedan was introduced, and another 1000 crowns were added to its price. According to plans, the plant should produce 500 cars of each model, however, contrary to expectations, Swedish buyers did not seek to buy up new cars. In the first year, only 297 cars were sold. One of the reasons for such a small number was the requirement for very high level the quality of the supplied components and its strict control by the manufacturer.
The top speed of the PV4 was quite decent - 90 km / h
A year later, presented new model is a Volvo Special, an extended version of the PV4 sedan. The Volvo Special featured a longer hood, thin A-pillars and a rectangular rear window. This car was already equipped with bumpers. At this time, bumpers had not yet become standard equipment on the car.
It wasn't until two years later that the company was able to make its first modest profits. In 1929, Volvo sold 1,383 cars. However, in the late 1920s the car made a real breakthrough, both in the European market and in America.
During several years at SKF, Assar Gabrielsson noted that Swedish ball bearings were inexpensive compared to international standard prices, and the idea of creating a production of Swedish cars that would be able to compete with American cars became stronger and stronger. Assar Gabrielsson worked with Gustaf Larson for several years at SKF and the two men, having also worked together for several years in the British automotive industry, learned to recognize and respect each other's experience and know-how.
Gustaf Larson also had plans to create his own, Swedish automotive industry. Their similar views and tasks led to cooperation after the first few chance meetings in 1924. As a result, they decided to found a Swedish car company. While Gustaf Larson was hiring young mechanics to assemble cars, Assar Gabrielsson was exploring the economics of their vision. In the summer of 1925, Assar Gabrielsson was forced to use his own savings to fund a trial run of 10 passenger cars.
The cars were assembled at Galco's Stockholm with the involvement of SKF, whose equity stake in Volvo was 200,000 SEK. SKF also made Volvo a controlled but capable of growth car company.
All work was moved to Gothenburg and neighboring Hisingen, and SKF equipment was eventually moved to Volvo's production site. Assar Gabrielsson identified 4 basic criteria that contribute to the successful development of the Swedish car company: Sweden was a developed industrial country; low wages in Sweden; Swedish steel had a strong reputation all over the world; there was a clear need for passenger cars on Swedish roads.
Gabrielsson and Larson's decision to start producing passenger cars in Sweden was clearly articulated and based on several business concepts:
Production of Volvo cars. Volvo will be responsible for both machine design and assembly, while materials and components will be sourced from other companies;
- Strategically secure key subcontractors. Volvo must find reliable support and, if necessary, partners in the rail sector;
- Focus on exports. Export sales began a year after the start of assembly line production;
- Attention to quality.
Neither effort nor expense can be spared in the process of building a car. It's cheaper to get things going in the right direction at the beginning of the journey than it is to make mistakes and fix them at the end. This is one of the main postulates of Assar Gabrielsson. If Assar Gabrielsson was shrewd in business, then the brilliant financier and merchant Gustaf Larson was a mechanical genius. Together, Gabrielsson and Larson controlled Volvo's two main business areas, economics and engineering. The efforts of two people were based on determination and discipline - two qualities that were often the key to the success of business in industry during the first half of the 20th century. It was their common approach that laid the foundation for Volvo's first and most important value - quality.
Volvo name
SKF company acted as a serious guarantor of the production of the first thousand cars: 500 - from convertible and 500 - with hard. Since one of the main activities of SKF was the production of bearings, the name Volvo was proposed for cars, which means “I roll” in Latin. Thus, 1927 was the birth year of Volvo.
To characterize your child, a symbol was needed. They chose steel and Swedish heavy industry, since cars started being made from Swedish steel. The "Symbol of Iron" or "Symbol of Mars" as it was called after the Roman god of war was placed in the center of the radiator grill on the first passenger passenger car Volvo and later at all trucks Volvo mobiles. "Sign of Mars" tightly attached to the radiator the simplest method: The steel rim was attached diagonally across the grille. As a result, the diagonal strip has become reliable and well famous symbol Volvo and its products, in fact one of the strongest trademarks in the automotive industry.
When the Volvo P1800 sports car turned 50 years old, the Swedish automaker decided to “modernize” the car. True, only on paper - run in mass production a modernized version of the model, drawn by Volvo chief designer Christopher Benjamin, is not being assembled yet.
At the same time, some experts note that such a car could well find its buyer. The key to commercial success would be the glory of the original P1800 sports car, which was considered the most attractive Volvo in the history of its existence. swedish brand. The appearance of the Volvo P1800 coupe in 1957 was created by designer Pelle Pettersson, who at that time worked in the Italian studio Pietro Frua. At first, the Swedes were going to launch the production of this model at the German company Karmann, which belonged to the Volkswagen concern, but the disagreements that arose during the negotiations led to the need to find another partner. As a result, serial production of the car was started only in 1961, while cars were assembled in the UK, at the Jensen factory.
The first Volvo P1800s were equipped with gasoline engine with a capacity of 100 horsepower, but in 1966 he was replaced by a 115-horsepower unit. In addition to the coupe, the car could be ordered in cabriolet and station wagon bodies. The total circulation of P1800 for 13 years amounted to 37.5 thousand copies.
In parallel, Volvo begins to produce its first trucks, which were based on the same Jacob.
So, since the 30s of the twentieth century, Volvo has been introducing new introductions to mechanical engineering. A new six-cylinder engine was invented, tested and put into production, brake pads installed on all 4 wheels, interior soundproofing, a silencer is installed, a radiator grille appears - and after all these innovations, the car's power does not drop in any way! No wonder the company weathers the global economic crisis. Before the Second World War, Volvo pleases its customers with an aerodynamic body.
The 40s passed under the sign of the World War. But Volvo does not lose ground, but on the contrary, it stays afloat, invents new innovations. After surviving the war and having completed the production of car modifications for military needs, Volvo returns to the production of civilian cars. Model PV444, after all the modifications, conquers the market. The company is increasing production and, consequently, the export of cars.
In the 50s, Volvo put a lot of emphasis on safety. Improved brakes, seat belts. A special committee is set up to study various accidents.
In the 60s - 70s. the company enters into agreements with DAF and Renault, which increases the performance and power of cars. New modifications and models are released - Amazone, models 240 and 345. In the 80s, car production per year reaches 400,000! We should not forget that the company continues to care about safety, as evidenced by the numerous awards for modifying the seat belt - the world's first three-point belt that improves safety by 50%.
The 90s again bring success to the company. Relations have been established with the French company Renault in the field of production of cars, trucks and buses; a lucrative agreement was signed with Mitsubishi and the Dutch government to create a new brand. But the main fact of this decade is the release of the 960 model, which was equipped with automatic transmission gears. The new car was modified with the help of Japanese colleagues from Mitsubishi - a nice design appeared.
At the moment, the Volvo brand is a safety brand. They go through the streets like this popular models like S40, S60, S80, V70, XC70, XC90. Cars are chosen for comfort, safety and reliability. Every year, the brand pleases with novelties and innovations, both in the field of safety and in the field of reliability of car robots. And besides this, Volvo produces reliable engines for boats and ships.
And now consider history of Volvo in chronological order:
1924 - the idea of creating the first machine-building plant in Sweden.
1927 - after three years of preparation, the first car of the Volvo brand - OV4 "Jakob" is released into the world, 300 cars were assembled.
1937 - release of new similar models - PV51 and PV52, 1800 cars were produced.
1940s - modernization of cars for military needs, then a strike of workers, a lack of materials. Design and assembly of PV444, an average of 3000 cars are produced per year.
1953 - release of a new family-type car - Volvo Duett.
1954 - an unprecedented step of the company - a guarantee is issued for a car for as much as 5 years! The first Volvo sports car is produced, which never became fashionable.
1956 - Amazon brand launched.
1958 - Volvo exports reach 100,000.
1959 - an event occurred that later made Volvo considered the safest car - it was invented three-point harness security.
1960-1966 - new cars Volvo 1800 and Volvo P 144 are presented, which were rightfully considered the most safe cars in the world.
1967 - the child seat was modernized, now it can be placed against the movement.
1974 - the Volvo 240 model was released, which included all types of safety that existed at that time.
1976-1982 - the company produces Volvo 343 and Volvo 760, which conquer the market, Volvo is famous all over the world.
1985 - the first car with front-wheel drive appears - Sport Car Volvo 480ES.
1990-1991 - developed and installed on the Volvo 850 side impact protection. Launched Volvo models 960, which had a 6-cylinder engine and a power of 240 hp.
1995 - the release of the famous cars Volvo S40 and V40.
1996 - Now Volvo pleases its customers with the beautiful Volvo C70.
1998 - release of Volvo S80 not only comfortable car but also one of the most safe cars in the world, thanks to whiplash protection.
1999 - Volvo buys out Ford, which still owns it to this day.
2002 - A year of great changes in Volvo products. The first SUV XC90 was announced, the restyling of the s40, s80 models was carried out. Volvo has already taken a firm step into the super-powered car market with the S60R and V70R. The company's design studio has been developing its own SUV for some time now. All leading European manufacturers, even Posrsche, have prepared or started producing their parquet "jeeps". And finally, in August 2002, mass production of the XC90 model was launched.
2003 - At the Geneva Motor Show, Volvo demonstrated its next concept car from the "Volvo Designers' Vision for Cars of the Future" series. Concept car VCC (Versability Concept Car - "Adaptive Concept Car").
The model range of the Swedish company Volvo has replenished with one more four-wheel drive vehicle- following the Volvo S60 and V70, the company's flagship received all-wheel drive, Volvo sedan S80. This car uses a system similar to that of the Volvo S60.
2004 - The appearance of the long-awaited new products of the Swedish company: Volvo S40 and Volvo V50 cars. The new Volvo S40 is 50 mm shorter than its predecessor, but despite this, Volvo offers the features and qualities of larger Volvo models.
2005 — Japanese company Yamaha has released the first engine for the new Volvo XC90 V8.
2007 - Volvo's anniversary year began with the Motor Show in Detroit, where it presents a new concept XC60. Looking back and looking at characteristic features cars that the company has produced over the past decades, in the new car you can hardly recognize Volvo. conceptual model The XC60 is a flashy crossover. The car's design features unusual solutions that make the XC60 unique. appearance. In the same year, Volvo launches new versions of its flagship models, the V70 and XC70, which debuted at the Geneva Motor Show.
Well, about modern models You all probably know from advertising articles in the media.
sources
http://www.tneo.ru
http://www.swedmobil.ru
http://avtomarket.ru
http://volvo.infocar.com.ua
http://www.volvoclub.ru
And I also suggest that you remember the history of the creation of an automobile brand and the history of "life and death" Link to the article from which this copy was made -
