VOLVO CAR AB STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE 26 March 2019 at 17:20 CET Volvo Cars issues new EUR bond Volvo Cars has today successfully issued a EUR 600m bond under its Euro Medium Term Note programme. The bond matures in April 2024 and pays a fixed coupon of 2.125%. The issue price was 99.625,… Continue reading Volvo Cars issues new EUR bond
Tag: Geely
Volvo to boost plug-in hybrid production to 25 percent of fleet
2020 Volvo XC90
While other automakers are moving away from plug-in hybrids to electric powertrains, Volvo is finding unexpected success with its lineup of plug-in hybrids.
At a recent roundtable with journalists in Sweden, Volvo CEO Hakan Samuelsson said the company is disappointed that it underestimated demand for its plug-in hybrids.
DON'T MISS: Volvo XC90, XC60 T8 plug-in hybrids add electric miles for 2020
“We are not happy because we could sell more [plug-in hybrids],” he said, according to Automotive News (subscription required.) “We underestimated the demand.” He said the company did not have a big enough supply of batteries, motors, and other electrical components to build more of its plug-in hybrids, which sell for about 30 percent more than non-hybrid versions of the cars.
Samuelsson said the company will boost its capacity for those plug-in hybrid components for 2019, from its current 10 or 15 percent worldwide, up to 25 percent of its sales.
READ THIS: Audi plans new plug-in hybrid Q5, A6, A7, and A8 for Geneva reveal
Last year in the U.S., Volvo sold a little less than 1,500 XC90 T8 PHEVs, a little more than 2,100 XC60 T8 PHEVs, and fewer than 500 S90 T8 sedans, but it sold almost 27,000 plug-in hybrids in Europe, combined.
At the same time, the company announced an upgrade to upcoming XC60 and XC90 T8 hybrids to boost their plug-in range by about 15 percent.
CHECK OUT: Fiat Chrysler lays groundwork to build electrified Jeep models
The new models haven't been rated by the EPA, but current models have an estimated 17 miles of electric range, which would put the new ones up around 20 miles. The Volvos use a 2.0-liter turbo-4 and an 8-speed automatic transmission to drive the front wheels, and an electric motor to provide another 87 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels.
Volvo also announced a new B5 line of mild-hybrid SUVs for Europe.
Other automakers, such as Audi, BMW, and Jeep have also announced plans to boost their lineups of plug-in hybrid SUVs, earlier this month at the Geneva auto show, so the new Volvos will have plenty of competition.
Lynk&Co tests fifth model in run-up to European launch
The new Lynk&Co 05 SUV-coupé, which is set to rival the BMW X6 and Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupé, has been spotted testing in Germany ahead of an expected unveiling at the Shanghai motor show next month. The high-riding model will be offered by the Chinese brand, which is owned by Volvo parent firm Geely and intends to… Continue reading Lynk&Co tests fifth model in run-up to European launch
Volvo chief issues warning on self-driving car safety
The chief executive of Volvo has warned that the premature launch of self-driving cars could erode trust among the public and regulators and effectively kill off the technology. Tom Braithwaite spoke to Peter Campbell, motor industry correspondent about Volvo’s warning. Contributors: Katie Martin, capital markets editor, Tom Braithwaite, Companies editor, and Peter Campbell, motor industry correspondent.… Continue reading Volvo chief issues warning on self-driving car safety
Geely Auto’s full-year profit jumps 18%, shares climb – Business News – The Star Online
Higher sales: A file picture showing Auto’s high-tech plant in Baoji, Shaanxi Province, China that only produces the five-seater Geely Boyue SUV. Geely sold 1.5 million cars last year, 20% higher than the 1.25 million it sold in 2017. BEIJING: China’s Geely Automobile Holdings posted an 18% jump in annual net profit, driven by higher… Continue reading Geely Auto’s full-year profit jumps 18%, shares climb – Business News – The Star Online
Car maker: Daimler is reportedly considering a higher stake in Chinese partner BAIC
BAIC booth at a car show in Beijing After the surprising entry of competitor Geely at the Stuttgart car manufacturer, Daimler has repeatedly emphasized how important BAIC is to him. (Photo: Reuters) Hong KongDaimler according to a report by the news agency Reuters, the investment bank Goldman Sachs a higher participation at the Chinese partner… Continue reading Car maker: Daimler is reportedly considering a higher stake in Chinese partner BAIC
Alibaba, Tencent, car makers set up $1.5 billion China ride-hailing venture
BEIJING (Reuters) – Alibaba, Tencent, Suning, and car makers including Chongqing Changan Automobile have set up a $1.5 billion Chinese ride-hailing venture, a move that could test the dominance of ride-sharing giant Didi Chuxing. FILE PHOTO: A man stands near the logo of Alibaba Group at the company’s newly-launched office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia June… Continue reading Alibaba, Tencent, car makers set up $1.5 billion China ride-hailing venture
Daimler taps Goldman to raise China BAIC shareholding – sources
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Daimler has asked Goldman Sachs to help it explore increasing its stake in Chinese carmaker BAIC Motor Corp, its main China joint venture partner, two people with knowledge of the matter said. The Daimler is seen during a press conference on the second press day of the Paris auto show, in… Continue reading Daimler taps Goldman to raise China BAIC shareholding – sources
Geely presses ahead with European debut as China auto sales slow – Nikkei Asian Review
HONG KONG — Chinese automaker Zhejiang Geely Holding Group is moving ahead with plans to roll out models in Western Europe this year after missing its annual sales target amid setbacks at home, the company said Thursday. Rising competition and weak consumer appetite for big-ticket items in China prompted Geely, one of the country’s top private automakers and… Continue reading Geely presses ahead with European debut as China auto sales slow – Nikkei Asian Review
Volvo to put cameras and sensors in its cars to tackle drunk driving
Volvo Car Group
Volvo Cars is set to install in-car cameras and sensors to monitor drivers for signs of intoxication and distraction.
The firm said the technology will be used to monitor drivers and, when needed, enable the car “to intervene if a clearly intoxicated or distracted driver does not respond to warning signals and is risking an accident involving serious injury or death.”
Actions the car could take include limiting speed to slowing down and then parking the car in a safe place. Installation of the technology will start in the early 2020s.
Wednesday's announcement represents the latest attempt by the company to boost the safety of its vehicles. At the beginning of March, it announced it would introduce a 180 kilometers per hour (112 miles per hour) speed limit on all its cars from 2020.
“When it comes to safety, our aim is to avoid accidents altogether rather than limit the impact when an accident is imminent and unavoidable,” Henrik Green, Volvo Cars' senior vice president, research and development, said in a statement Wednesday.
“In this case, cameras will monitor for behavior that may lead to serious injury or death,” Green added.
The system, Volvo Cars said, will be on the lookout for a range of potentially dangerous behaviors. These include drivers who display a “complete lack of steering input for extended periods of time” or have their eyes closed or off the road for long periods. Technology will also monitor “excessively slow reaction times” and “extreme weaving across lanes.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly 30 people in the U.S. die each day because of drunk driving crashes. There were 10,874 deaths in the U.S. from drunk driving crashes in 2017, the NHTSA adds.
“There are many accidents that occur as a result of intoxicated drivers,” Trent Victor, professor of Driver Behaviour at Volvo Cars, said. “Some people still believe that they can drive after having had a drink, and that this will not affect their capabilities. We want to ensure that people are not put in danger as a result of intoxication.”
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