Topic: Volvo to build first U.S. factory in Charleston, SC

[Autos_Editor]

Plant to create an estimated 2,000 jobs
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[mlin32]

It's always a contest to see which Southeastern state can throw taxpayer money at big businesses in terms of cash/tax incentives.

Glad NC doesn't play that game quite as extensively.

[JohnnyMac]

Seeing as I have lived in NB all my life, how is it that I didn't hear that Volvo built cars in Halifax?  Mind you in 1998 I was still in high school and had other priorities.  Too bad they stopped building in Canada and even worse that they didn't come back to Atlantic Canada.  That $4+ billion dollar infusion would have really gone a long way.

[Solstice2006]

Year after year Volvo sales are declining, why does building a plant in the US make Volvo think their sales will increase?  Is it that Volvo thinks that the Chinese owned company will appeal to the US buyer, because it was made in the USA?  Maybe a few hundred sales, but not ten of thousands....  Yet another blow to the Canadian company.  Wonder if the Oshawa plant would have been sufficient to meet their needs, certainly big enough...

[JohnnyMac]

Year after year Volvo sales are declining, why does building a plant in the US make Volvo think their sales will increase?  Is it that Volvo thinks that the Chinese owned company will appeal to the US buyer, because it was made in the USA?  Maybe a few hundred sales, but not ten of thousands....  Yet another blow to the Canadian company.  Wonder if the Oshawa plant would have been sufficient to meet their needs, certainly big enough...

I think they're rolling out a bunch of new vehicles that will more appeal to the USA.  It started with the S60, then the XC60, the new XC90 is coming and in the near future a new S80.  They have spent a lot of money in developing a engine lineup that offers the fuel economy people need but offer the power that people in this price range want/expect.  Opening a plant in US is probably to stabilize their prices for their product in US.

[Noto]

Could have been worse... 

Volvo says it chose to build in South Carolina to take advantage of “easy access to international ports and infrastructure, a well-trained labor force, attractive investment environment and experience in the high tech manufacturing sector.”

Yeah, F*** you, Mexico.

I kid.  A little.

[OliverD]

Year after year Volvo sales are declining, why does building a plant in the US make Volvo think their sales will increase?  Is it that Volvo thinks that the Chinese owned company will appeal to the US buyer, because it was made in the USA?  Maybe a few hundred sales, but not ten of thousands....  Yet another blow to the Canadian company.  Wonder if the Oshawa plant would have been sufficient to meet their needs, certainly big enough...

This could enable them to be more price competitive.

[redman]

I owned a Volvo 240 assembled in Halifax and a Swedish assembled 240. They were comparable.

"Volvo says it chose to build in South Carolina to take advantage of “easy access to international ports and infrastructure, a well-trained labor force, attractive investment environment and experience in the high tech manufacturing sector.”

I recall when the auto industry use to say things like this about Canada.

[conwelpic]

I had a Canadian assembled Volvo at one time

[Solstice2006]

Year after year Volvo sales are declining, why does building a plant in the US make Volvo think their sales will increase?  Is it that Volvo thinks that the Chinese owned company will appeal to the US buyer, because it was made in the USA?  Maybe a few hundred sales, but not ten of thousands....  Yet another blow to the Canadian company.  Wonder if the Oshawa plant would have been sufficient to meet their needs, certainly big enough...

I think they're rolling out a bunch of new vehicles that will more appeal to the USA.  It started with the S60, then the XC60, the new XC90 is coming and in the near future a new S80.  They have spent a lot of money in developing a engine lineup that offers the fuel economy people need but offer the power that people in this price range want/expect.  Opening a plant in US is probably to stabilize their prices for their product in US.

New vehicles?  the 2nd generation S60, and XC60 dates back to 2010.  Both of these need some powertrain upgrades, the T6 was updated in 2010...   The only thing new for us is the V60, and the XC90 (low volume model).  Yes they have invested a lot in new upcoming 4 cylinder engines, which will likely by used in the S60, V60, XC60.  But a large market (especially in Europe), is the compacts.  They are missing a lot of potential buyers but not offering the S40, V40, and an XC40.  Spend more efforts on the XC40, than an S80.  The subcompact CUV market is going strong.  An XC40 with a turbo 4 cylinder would be awesome!

[northsparrow]

Why call this a Volvo factory when Volvo is just a division of Geely . This factory is Trojan horse designed to get Americans used to the idea of Chinese cars being sold in the USA.

Remember, there have been no Chinese built cars sold in the States to date as they never got the Chinese Honda Fit that was shipped to Canada.

 

[OliverD]

Why call this a Volvo factory when Volvo is just a division of Geely . This factory is Trojan horse designed to get Americans used to the idea of Chinese cars being sold in the USA.

Remember, there have been no Chinese built cars sold in the States to date as they never got the Chinese Honda Fit that was shipped to Canada.

The average consumer probably has no idea that Volvo is Chinese owned.

[tpl]

Why call this a Volvo factory when Volvo is just a division of Geely . This factory is Trojan horse designed to get Americans used to the idea of Chinese cars being sold in the USA.

Remember, there have been no Chinese built cars sold in the States to date as they never got the Chinese Honda Fit that was shipped to Canada.

FWIW our Chinese built MkII Fit seems to be as well built as our Japan built MkI was.   

[rrocket]

Who would have thought Chinese cars would be built in USA!