According to Chinese media reports earlier this week, SAIC was in talks with Ford over buying Volvo. SAIC later issued a denial, but that does not stop the automotive rumor mill from running.
Dongfeng is the latest suitor that is involved with Ford in taking over the ailing Volvo, although Ford say it will be in profit in 2009. Dongfeng currently have a joint venture partnership to build Volvo heavy trucks in China.
Dongfeng have been itching to launch their own brand of passenger vehicles for quite some time, although they havent always been very successful on the design front. Acquiring Volvo, and Volvo technology would must surely propel them to the forefront of automotive technology in China and would raise Dongfeng’s game quite a bit.
Why even bother buying a loss making name ? :/ if Ford cannot do anything, what can other people do ?
According to Gasgoo, Dongfeng will bring its own brand cars out soon in september, and maybe Eric can help us shed some light on this.
Gasgoo are mildly bonkers. The picture they show was a badly remodeled Citroen ZX.
Citroen Elysee, even.
I really hope one of the Chinese companys can buy VOLVO as VOLVO’s safety technology is second to none. If that happens, the whole Chinese industry would no doubt benefit from that.
Volvo did quite well until Ford got a hold of it!!!!