Volvo says it has confounded the critics following its take-over by Chinese operation, Geely, many of whom believed the deal would see the Swedish automaker weakened as a result.
Addressing delegates at the Automotive News Congress in Monaco, Volvo CEO, Stefan Jacoby, was at pains to point out the Swedish automaker was generally left to its own devices, while still being answerable to the Chinese board.
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“Volvo left the huge Ford family behind to be an independent operation with Chinese owners,” said Jacoby. “Many experts predicted this would make us weak and vulnerable.
“However, two years of independence have proved that being small and nimble brings advantages if you make things faster, better and smarter.
Jacoby cited a return to profitability following a period when “the health check was not good, we were sick,” its ability to cope with the Japanese tsunami and the creation of new jobs as well as entry into new markets as evidence of its success under the tutelage of new owners.
“Geely offers us a valuable route to the Chinese suppliers and Volvo in turn has valuable experts in design, product development and of course, in technology,” he said.
“Geely is Geely and Volvo is Volvo. At the time of the take-over, they [Geely] said they wanted to unleash the tiger from the cage into the jungle. Two years later, I can confirm we are fully unleashed.”
