Volvo - the history of the company. Volvo cars begins production of xc60 in China Which country produces Volvo

Volvo Cars has begun production of its best-selling XC60 at the Volvo plant in Chengdu, China. The expansion of production in China was made possible thanks to the constant growth in sales.

The Volvo XC60 is the second model to be produced in China. Production of the first model in China, the Volvo S60L long-wheelbase sedan, began in November 2013.

The expansion of production with the start of assembly of the XC60 at the Chengdu plant means the creation of an additional 500 jobs, bringing the total plant workforce to around 2,650 people. The new system for calculating working hours will allow us to reach the required production volume.

The XC60 is Volvo's bestseller worldwide and in China.

In the first nine months of 2014, global XC60 sales grew 20.4 percent to 98,309 units. During the same period of time, sales in China increased by 32.3 percent, with 24,940 vehicles sold. Earlier this year, total production of the XC60, which launched in 2008, reached 500,000 units.

"Start of productionXC60 in Chengdu is one of the latest milestones in the transformation journeyVolvo Cars, - stated Håkan Samuelsson (Hå kanSamuelson), President and CEOVolvoCars. – This is very important to support overall growthVolvoin a market that is today the largest forVolvo".

The Chengdu plant is located in the economic and technological development zone of central China. The plant can produce 120,000 cars per year.

Volvo Cars also has a plant in Daqing in northeastern China, where it has begun assembling the Volvo XC Classic, a localized variant of the first-generation Volvo XC90 designed specifically for the Chinese market.

In addition, since the fall of 2013, the city of Zhangjiakou, northwest of Beijing, has been operating Volvo plant Cars is an engine manufacturer that supplies its products to assembly plants in Chengdu and Daqing.

All of the company's activities in China are carried out in full compliance with Volvo Cars' global standards and processes, which operate at the Torslanda and Ghent plants in Europe.

"The Chengdu plant is exactly the same as our plants in Europe,- told Lars Danielson (LarsDanielson), senior vice presidentVolvoCarsChinaOperationsand CEOVolvoCarChina. – In terms of quality, technology and equipment used, working conditions, safety standards and environmental protection, our Chengdu plant fully complies with global standards and requirementsVolvo Cars".

Volvo Cars has enjoyed strong sales in China this year, with retail sales up 36 percent compared to 2013. Volvo Cars is clearly ahead of its competitors in the premium segment in China, rapidly increasing its market share.

In addition to the XC60 and S60L, segment leaders V60 and V40 show excellent sales figures in the Chinese market. Volvo cars are currently sold at more than 160 dealerships throughout China.

"The expectations of Chinese consumers are no lower than those of Europeans. They expect products of the highest quality,- speaks Mr. Danielson. – Buyers have a huge choice in the highly competitive Chinese market, so we guarantee high quality carsVolvo, produced at our Chengdu plant, which are no different from the cars produced at our plants in Europe."

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Volvo Car Group V 2013

In the 2013 financial year, profit from operating activitiesVolvo Car Groupamounted to SEK 1.919 million (SHK 66 million in 2012). Annual income for the specified period amounted to Shk 122.245 million. (124 . 547 ), while net profit reached the level960 Shk million (-542 Shk million). Retail sales worldwide for the year reached427 . 840 (421 . 951) cars – an increase of 1.4 percent compared to 2012. Profit from core activities increased due to cost reduction and strong sales, which indicates the successful implementation of the transformation planVolvo Car Group. According to the company's forecasts, financial results for 2014 will be positive, and sales will show another record and increase by 5 percent.

ABOUT Volvo Car Group

CompanyVolvo has existed since 1927. TodayVolvois one of the most famous and respected automobile brands in the world.Volvo Carssells its cars in approximately 100 countries, sales in 2013 amounted to 427,000 cars. Since 2010Volvo Cars owned by a Chinese companyZhejiang Geely Holding (Geely Holding). Volvo Carswas part of a group of companiesSwedish Volvo Group (Sweden), and in 1999 it was acquired by an American companyFord Motor Company. In 2010Volvo Carsbought by the companyGeely Holding.

As of December 2013 inVolvo Carsemployed more than 23,000 people worldwide. head officeVolvo Cars, product development, marketing and administrative functions are concentrated in Gothenburg (Sweden). head officeVolvo Carsin China is located in Shanghai (China). Basic manufacturing enterprises The companies are located in Gothenburg (Sweden), Ghent (Belgium) and Chengdu (China). Car enginesVolvoare produced at the plant in Skövda (Sweden) andZhangjiakou(China).

Europe can boast of quality cars. One of them is the cars of the Swedish company Volvo. The automotive industry giant produces trucks and cars. vehicles, as well as components.

Production

Many people are confused about which country produces Volvo. This is due to the company's extensive product line.

The Scandinavian Peninsula is home to one of the world's most renowned manufacturers of reliable vehicles. Volvo's first producing country is Sweden. Since 1927, it is here in the city of Gothenburg that the best cars, parts and units.

The company specializes in manufacturing:

• trucks;
• passenger cars;
• agricultural and forestry equipment;
• engines for various purposes.

The concern successfully carried out its activities in the automotive industry. Until 1999, the company was producing passenger cars, but then Volvo Personvagnar became the property of Ford, another giant in car production, and later to the Geely concern (China). Today there are several areas of activity of the concern.

Despite the fact that the company that owns the Volvo Cars line is located in China, the main production facilities for cars and trucks are still located in the European Union.

European factories of the concern

• XC90;
• V60;

The Gothenburg facilities make cars for the markets of Europe and the USA. The share in the total production of all vehicles is about 11%.

Not far away, in the city of Skövde, they produce power plants Volvo. The engines are distributed all over the world, to countries where the parent company's facilities are located. The conveyors in the city of Olofström produce body parts of the Scandinavian brand.

In addition, high-quality products are made in other European countries. So, in Belgium, at the Volvo Cars Ghent plant, located in the city of Ghent, the following models are assembled:

• XC60.

It is the units assembled in Ghent that have the reputation of being the most high-quality assembly. This is all thanks to the fact that the enterprise is fully equipped with a closed type of production. The plant produces about 33% of cars from the total production volume.

In Torsland and Uddevalla in Switzerland, models come off the assembly lines that make up the lion's share of total production - 20%:

• XC70;
• S80;
• XC90;
• V601;
• C70.

In addition to the factories presented above, the concern owns bus production in the UK and produces vehicles for various purposes in the USA and China. Assembly factories operate in India and Malaysia.

In Copenhagen, the Volvo concern has a research center where they develop and test innovations in technical transport units. A team of specialists is working on creating new models and introducing innovations, making the comfortable, bladeless and environmentally friendly vehicles of the Swedish brand even better every day.

Factories in Asia

Since 2013, the company begins producing vehicles at production facilities in the cities of Chengdu and Chongqing in China. Cars are made here for the country's domestic market. The opening of a production base in the country made it possible to significantly reduce the cost of car models due to the absence of customs duties. More than half of all production comes from the Chinese market. They make the following car models:

• S90.

Since 2015, the concern has been exporting cars to the USA produced in Chinese factories.

Volvo in the USA

The largest market for consumption of Volvo vehicles is in North America. Residents of the continent have long been accustomed to the reliability of cars and their high technical characteristics. The largest plant producing passenger vehicles of the brand is the plant located in Ghent. It accounts for about half of the company's total turnover.

However, today the concern has its own plant in South Carolina, where it produces models of the 60th class, but it is planned to produce the 90th class as well. This made it possible to fill the American market with reliable and recognized cars. Previously, Volvo only had a research center in the United States.

Russian Volvo plant

Russia has become another market into which the company has introduced its capabilities. Today in Kaluga the production of the following trucks has been launched:

Suppliers of components to the plant are Sweden, Belgium and Germany, France and India. The Volvo Trucks concern, whose policy is aimed at selling products in the countries where they are produced, provides the Russian market with reliable freight transport.

In plans Russian manufacturer production of trucks up to 7 thousand units per year. Despite the consequences of the crisis, well-established truck manufacturing activities have been maintained in Kaluga and continue to provide employment for thousands of workers.

The company makes big bets on heavy engineering and special transport. The Kaluga plant is the most modern and modernized of all units in the Volvo Trucks line.

The largest acquisition in the history of the Chinese automobile industry: the Chinese concern Geely buys the Swedish company Volvo from the American Ford. The agreement was signed yesterday in Gothenburg, in the presence of Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, who arrived in Sweden on an official visit in connection with the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, and Swedish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry Maud Olofsson. Transaction value: $1.8 billion, all funds necessary for the acquisition have already been received, at the same time Geely has also prepared the capital necessary for further development production Volvo cars.

Swedish media reports emphasize that “the agreement provides for the preservation of independence Volvo, continuing to implement its commercial plans and further development.” Upon completion of the transaction, the company's headquarters will remain in Gothenburg, and Geely will also retain Volvo's existing factories in Sweden and Belgium. In addition, the new owner expects to build a Volvo plant in China “to saturate the company’s cars in the Chinese market.” The agreement states that Geely will maintain good relations with Volvo workers, its trade unions, sales agencies, and especially consumers. “Volvo will be run by Volvo management. The company will be given independence from a strategic perspective. It will operate according to its own business plan. We are committed to maintaining the brand's identity and view Volvo as a Swedish company with strong Scandinavian traditions,” says Geely Chairman Li Shufu.

Ford has wanted to sell Volvo, along with several other assets, since 2008, when both the company and many of its competitors, both in the United States and around the world, faced serious financial problems. “The main goal of the deal is to find a new owner who shares Ford’s opinion about the future of Volvo. We needed to find a new owner who could grow the business and at the same time care deeply about the unique characteristics of the Swedish brand. And who also treats the company's employees and the community in which we operate responsibly. We have found, and I am pleased to announce, such an owner in the person of Geely,” says Ford vice president Lewis Booth.

Volvo was acquired by Ford in 1999 for $6.5 billion. In total, Volvo employs 22 thousand people in the world, of which 16 thousand are in Sweden. Now the Swedish manufacturer assembles about 300 thousand cars a year - new plant in China should do the same. The unions gave final consent to sign the agreement only last Saturday, after a meeting with Li Shufu and his explanations about the plans of the new management for the future. “We are pleased to have entered into an agreement with Ford that allows us to preserve and enhance the legacy of the famous Volvo brand. The brand will remain true to its core values ​​of safety and modern Scandinavian design,” said Li Shufu. According to him, the strategic goal of the Chinese corporation is to achieve production of 2 million cars per year by 2015. The acquisition of a well-known brand raises the prestige of the Chinese automobile industry. In addition, Volvo will open a more expensive segment of the European market and its sales network to manufacturers from the Middle Kingdom.

THE BIRTH OF VOLVO

VOLVO's birthday is considered to be April 14, 1927 - the day when the first car called "Jacob" left the Gothenburg plant. However, the real history of the Concern's development began several years later.
The 20s are characterized by the beginning of the real development of the automotive industry simultaneously in the USA and Europe. In Sweden, people really began to become interested in cars in 1923 after an exhibition in Gothenburg. In the early 20s, 12 thousand 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 required after assembly. To this day, VOLVO follows this principle.

THE CREATORS OF VOLVO

Assar Gabrielsson and Gustaf Larson are the creators of VOLVO. Assar Gabrielsson Son of Gabriel Gabrielsson, office manager, and Anna Larsson, born on 13 August 1891 in Kosberg, Skaraborg County. He graduated from the Norra Higher Latin School in Stockholm in 1909. Received a bachelor's degree economic sciences and business at the School of Economists in Stockholm in 1911. After working as an official and stenographer in the Lower House of the Swedish Parliament, Gabrielsson became a sales manager at SKF in 1916. He founded VOLVO and served as President until 1956.

GUSTAF LARSON

The son of Lars Larson, farmer, and Hilda Magnesson, he was born on July 8, 1887 in Vintros, Erebro County. In 1911 he graduated from the Technical Primary School in Erebro; received his engineering degree from the Royal Institute of Technology in 1917. In England, from 1913 to 1916, he worked as a design engineer at White and Popper Ltd. After graduating from the Royal Institute of Technology, Gustaf Larson worked for SKF as manager and chief engineer of the company'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" from 1920 to 1926. Collaborated with Assar Gabrielsson to create "VOLVO". From 1926 to 1952 - Technical Director and Executive Vice President of the VOLVO company.

TWO PEOPLE UNITED BY ONE IDEA

During several years of work at SKF, Assar Gabrielsson noted that Swedish ball bearings were inexpensive compared to international prices, and the idea of ​​​​creating a production of Swedish cars that could compete with American cars grew 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 automobile industry. Their similar views and goals led to cooperation after the first few chance meetings in 1924. As a result, they decided to found a Swedish automobile company. While Gustaf Larson was hiring young mechanics to assemble cars, Assar Gabrielsson was studying the economics of their idea. In the summer of 1925, Assar Gabrielsson was forced to use his own savings to finance a trial run of 10 passenger cars. passenger cars.

The cars were assembled at Galco's Stockholm plant, attracting the interests of SKF, whose capital share in VOLVO was SEK 200,000. SKF also made VOLVO a controlled, but capable of growth, automobile company.

All work was moved to Gothenburg and nearby Hisingen, and the SKF equipment was eventually moved to the VOLVO production site. Assar Gabrielsson identified 4 basic criteria that contributed to the successful development of the Swedish automobile company: Sweden was a developed industrial country; low level wages in Sweden; Swedish steel had a strong reputation throughout the world; There was a clear need for passenger cars on Swedish roads. The decision of Gabrielsson and Larson to start producing passenger cars in Sweden was clearly formulated and was based on several business concepts: - production of VOLVO passenger cars. VOLVO will be responsible for both the design of the cars and the assembly work, and materials and components will be purchased from other companies; - strategically secure key subcontractors. VOLVO must find reliable support and, if necessary, partners in the field of railway transport. - concentration on exports. Export sales began a year after the launch of conveyor production. - attention to quality. No effort or expense should be spared in the process of creating a car. It is cheaper to get production going in the right direction at the beginning of the journey than to allow mistakes and correct them at the end. This is one of Assar Gabrielsson's main rappers. If Assar Gabrielsson was a shrewd businessman, then the brilliant financier and trader Gustaf Larson was a mechanical genius. Together, Gabrielsson and Larson controlled VOLVO's two main areas of activity - economics and mechanical engineering. The efforts of the two men were based on determination and discipline - two qualities that were often the key to business success in industry throughout the 1st half of the 20th century. This was their overall approach, which laid the foundation for VOLVO's first and most important value - quality.

NAME VOLVO

The SKF company acted as a serious guarantor of the production of the first thousand cars: 500 with a convertible top and 500 with a hard top. Since one of the main activities of SKF is the production of bearings, the name “VOLVO” was proposed for the cars, which means “I roll” in Latin. Thus, 1927 became the year of birth of VOLVO.

To characterize your child, a symbol was needed. It became steel and Swedish heavy industry, since cars began to be made from Swedish steel. The "Iron Symbol" or "Mars Symbol", as it was called after the Roman god of war, was placed in the center of the radiator grille on the first VOLVO passenger car and later on all VOLVO trucks. "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 stripe has become a trusted and well-known symbol of VOLVO and its products, in fact one of the strongest brands in the automotive industry.

1926

On August 10, 1926, Assar Gabrielsson's forecasts convinced SKF management to put its idle cash into circulation by investing in VOLVO, in addition to the previously invested 200,000 Swedish crowns. In addition, SKF provided an additional loan of SEK 1,000,000 to VOLVO, thereby covering VOLVO's previous losses in its early years until it turned a profit in 1929. By 1935, VOLVO was making profit over the next 5 years. SKF, having received several issued shares, increased its capital share to SEK 13,000,000. Management realized that the time had come to list VOLVO shares on the Stockholm Stock Exchange, which was approved by shareholders. The acquisition by SKF of a significant part of the shares ensured that they immediately increased in price and received the title of “people's shares”, which still exist today.

1927

The first production vehicle, the OV4 "Jacob", left the Hisingen plant in Gothenburg on April 14th. This event. marked the birth of a new era in Swedish industry. "Jacob" was based on American model, where the chassis had leaf springs front and rear. The four-cylinder engine developed power up to 28 hp. at 2,000 rpm. Maximum speed The speed of this car was 90 km/h, but the cruising speed was stated to be 60 km/h. The car was mounted on so-called “artillery wheels”, which had natural wood spokes and a removable rim. The body was a five-seater and had a convertible top and four doors inside, it was trimmed in leather and mounted on a frame made of ash and beech. The selling price of this car with a convertible top was 4,800 kroner, and with a hardtop 5,800 kroner. In the first year, the production rate was very low due to very strict quality commitments undertaken by VOLVO.

1928

The hard top version was much more successful than expected, so the plan to produce 500 cars with a folding top and 500 with a hard top was very quickly adjusted. Production of the VOLVO "Special" began, which received the model name PV4. The hood has become longer, the shape of the front part has become more aerodynamic, and the windshield has become somewhat shorter. The model was equipped with a rear rectangular lamp and a bumper. Front wheel brakes were stated as an option and cost 200 CZK to install them. Ernst Grauer is the man whose name is associated with the beginning of VOLVO's success. He was, in a way, the first dealer of the company through whom the entire OV4 series was sold.

At the same time, VOLVO began production of the Type 1 truck. Subcompact trucks were already produced on the Jacob chassis in 1927, the project itself already existed in 1926. Truck production was a success. In 1928, the first representative office of Oy VOLVO Auto BA was opened in Finland, in Helsinki.

1929

After the start of production of Jacob, VOLVO began to develop a six-cylinder engine.
The first car with the PV651 six-cylinder engine was presented in April. The letters PV stand for "crew" in Swedish, and the numbers 651 stand for six cylinders, five seats and the first series.
The PV651 was a longer, wider car with a much stiffer frame than the Jacob. The more powerful engine was appreciated, especially in a taxi.
In 1929, 1,383 cars were sold. 27 were sold for export. The first magazine for VOLVO owners appeared this year. It was called "Ratten" ("Rudder"). Ralf Hansson, export manager, became the magazine's first editor. The cover of the first edition featured a portrait of Hjalmar Wallin, one of the VOLVO retailers in Gothenburg.

The publications were distributed among VOLVO employees and various interested partners. As a result, Ratten became a magazine for buyers. Today "Ratten" is one of the major publications in Sweden and the longest-running consumer magazine in the country.
After the Second World War, a special edition of the magazine "Ratten" was published. Apart from a single text written in Swedish on the cover of the magazine entitled "Explanations and Apologies to the Readers of Sweden", the entire magazine was published in English. The reason for this, as explained by VOLVO, was that its export sales did not bring a word of information abroad about the progress and development of the company during the long years of the war, which had just ended.

1930

After the successful debut of the PV651 model in a taxi, VOLVO decided to take a more serious approach to the production of cars for this purpose.
In March 1930, VOLVO released two new models TR671 and TR672 with seven passenger seats. The car was intended specifically for transporting people. The chassis of this model was completely identical to the PV650/651.

In August 1930, a presentation took place new version PV651-PV652. This car had modified seats and a dashboard. The rear fenders have become longer, and the windshield has become more rounded. The cost of this car was 6,900 crowns.

VOLVO PUTS BRAKES ON

As part of the philosophy of safety and quality that has always been integral trademark"VOLVO", in 1930, hydraulic brakes on 4 wheels were introduced. The brakes were so effective that warning triangles were often attached to rear bumpers and trunks of cars and trucks VOLVO to warn other vehicles from the braking effect and to maintain distance.

This year, VOLVO bought the plant that supplied Pentaverken engines. In addition, the premises of the Hisingen plant that previously belonged to SKF also became the property of VOLVO." Thus, VOLVO's workforce began to number in the hundreds.

1931

The international economic crisis has led to a decline in car sales in Sweden. In addition, strong competition was created by the General Motors company, which had its own Chevrolet production plant in Stockholm. 90% of VOLVO cars produced were sold in Sweden, and only relying on Swedish patriotism was it possible to survive this period. This year a new taxi model TR673, TR674 was released. In the same year, for the first time in the history of VOLVO, dividends were paid to the co-founders.

1932

In January, the model receives a number of serious design changes. The engine displacement increased to 3,366 cm3, which gave an increase in power to 65 hp. at a speed of 3200 rpm. The gearbox became four-speed instead of three, and synchronizers were installed in second and third gears. As a result of all these changes, cruising speed increased by 20%. Since the beginning of 1927, the number of cars sold has exceeded 10,000: 3,800 cars, 1,000 with four-cylinder engines, 2,800 with six-cylinder engines, and 6,200 trucks.

1933

In August 1933, the presentation of new models PV653 (standard) and PV654 (luxury) took place. The chassis of these models was similar to the PV651/652, but there was one difference, which was the reinforcement of the suspension with central crossmembers. The bodies were already completely metal. The wheels remained fundamentally the same, that is, spoked, but their design became more stylish. All instruments and various control keys were collected from the entire torpedo into one dashboard, and the “glove compartment” became lockable. In these years, cabin sound insulation becomes a significant characteristic. VOLVO has done a great job in this regard. The carburetor received a filter, and a muffler appeared, and the installation of both was calculated and carried out so that the engine did not lose any power. The luxury model was different from the standard rear lights and two sound signals installed under the headlights.k8]

In 1933, Gustaf D-M Erikssoi introduced one hand-built car, which was made in a single copy and was called "Venus Bito". At that time, it was a revolutionary car in terms of aerodynamics, but the market was not ready to appreciate its advantages, so the Venus Bito did not receive mass production. However, in the future, the principles of aerodynamics of the body of this car, of course, received their full implementation. For VOLVO, this became a kind of lesson, showing that being ahead of time is just as pointless as falling behind.

1934

This spring, a new seven-seater taxi model was released. The new model was called TR675/679 and replaced the PV653/654. It had no fundamental differences.

In 1934, 2,984 cars were sold, of which 775 were exported.

1935

It was a happy year for VOLVO. The release of the new PV36 model was another continuation of the American concept in the automotive industry. The engine remains from the previous model. The windshield was divided into two parts. The rear wheels were half covered by the rear wings. An additional luggage compartment was installed at the rear, and the cabin could accommodate six people: three in the front and three in the rear.

The PV36 was declared a luxury model and cost 8,500 CZK. Initially, 500 cars were produced. This model also received its own name "Carioca". This was the name of a popular American dance at that time. PV658/659 replaced PV653/654. The new model had a modified hood and a radiator grille that served a protective function.

In the same year, a new taxi model TR701-704 was released, which differed from its predecessor only in a more powerful engine - 80 hp.

TRADE IS AN ART

The brown leather cover features a special 1936 sales manual document.

The book was written by Assar Gabrielsson and contained a separate technical chapter by Gustav Larson.

The 1st chapter is devoted exclusively to the importance of trading for VOLVO: “Trading is an art. People without artistic ability in a certain field will never be able to become brilliant artists, no matter how much they train and what education they receive. A person who was not born to trade and who chooses to trade will not be able to become a successful trader through training programs." The guidance is always based on the following:

Rule N1:

Rule N2: Let him drive the car!

Rule N3: Let him drive the car!

Gabrielsson's focus on the customer, even as far back as 1936, illustrates this: for trading purposes, nothing can provide the effectiveness of personal service as well as individual salespeople. Individual relationships between car dealers and their customers mean more to customer satisfaction than anything else. Gustav Larson's separate chapter on technology and mechanical engineering begins as follows:
"Cars are built for and driven by people. The core principle is that every design effort is and should be about safety..."
This was the first time that VOLVO used the word "safety" as its second fundamental value after "consistent" quality.

1936

A model that was more successful than the PV36 was the PV51. It is believed that with this model the VOLVO brand has become synonymous with the concept of quality. Specifications PV51 were the same as PV36. The body has become a little wider and the windshield is solid. The engine remained the same power of 86 hp, but the car itself became lighter than the PV36 and, as a result, more dynamic. The cost of this model was 8500 CZK.

1937

At the beginning of 1937, the PV52 model was introduced, which had more complete set compared to PV51. The PV52 was equipped with two sun visors, two windshield wipers, an electric clock, heated glass, powerful sound signal, seats with reclining backs. Armrests were installed on all doors. 1937 was a record year: 1,804 cars were produced.

"VOLVO" EMPLOYEES UNION

By the end of the 30s, the number of trade unions began to increase rapidly in Sweden. The Swedish Industrial Employees' Association (SIF) reached VOLVO, but this movement was not warmly received by Assar Gabrielsson. Instead, he asked Bertil Heleby to appoint a representative of VOLVO employees to resolve the issue of salaries and other problems together with management.
On top of that, the food in the company canteen was virtually inedible. On these and other issues, on October 4, 1939, employees gathered for a general meeting in the lecture hall opposite the canteen.
At the meeting, by a majority vote, it was decided to create the VOLVO Employees' Union. Thus, the Union began its activities, which included all 250 employees of the company, as well as Assar Gabrielsson and Gustaf Larson.

SIF, which at first kept itself apart, eventually consolidated its position on VOLVO and conducted its activities in parallel with the Union.
VOLVO has matured, and the VOLVO Employees Union has also matured. Every summer its members held a crayfish boil party, which was first held by Gabrielsson and Larson at the Stereholf restaurant in Stockholm in 1934. The Union also published a newspaper for its members, the original title of which was “The Silencer”, which was later replaced by “The Air Purifier” ". The publication was later absorbed by the company and transformed into "VOLVO Contact", which from the 80s to the present day has been called "VOLVO Now".
As before, parties are organized within the Union, photo and art clubs operate, as well as a new section of elders that has formed.

1938

Along with the PV51/52 models, body colors such as blue, burgundy, green and black appeared. New models PV53, PV54 standard and PV55, PV56 lux. The design of the hood and radiator grille has changed in these models. Larger size The headlights and the emblem on the radiator grille became steel. The speedometer began to be positioned horizontally.

In 1938, VOLVO PV801 (with a glass partition inside) and PV802 (without partition) for taxis were also produced. The base of these models has become somewhat wider, and the radii of the hood and front fenders have changed. These models had eight seats including the driver's seat.

1939

Second world war led to a serious energy crisis. Due to the fact that VOLVO was already involved in gas generators, it was able to beat other manufacturers by six weeks and begin producing cars with gas generators powered by charcoal. A new model was supposed to be released this year to replace the PV53 and 56, but the outbreak of the Second World War in September disrupted all plans.

YOUR FIRST MODEL

The Second World War led to a decline in car sales from 7,306 to 5,900 units. In addition to the decline in the purchasing power of cars, problems began to arise with components for their assembly. At that time, Assar Gabrielsson wrote: “From the very beginning of the war, the situation changed radically: customers who bought our cars “in short supply” began to withdraw their orders.” It was necessary to survive despite falling sales, so VOLVO gave priority to the production of gas generators and vehicles for the army, among which were Jeep-type vehicles.

In the first year of the war, 7,000 gas generators were sold for the needs national defense. Despite the acute shortage of components, production of PV53-56 did not stop completely. Some models were equipped with ECG (gas generator) motors with a power of 50 hp.

1941

The release of a new model to replace the PV53-56, scheduled for May 1940, had to be postponed. VOLVO continued to produce prototypes of the PV53-56 model. On September 6, 1941, the 50,000th VOLVO car rolled off the assembly line.
In the same year, VOLVO bought controlling stake shares of the company "Svenska Flygmotor AB"

1942

VOLVO produced four prototypes of the PV60, the rear doors of which were attached to the B-pillar. The presentation of these models was planned to take place after the war. The concept of these prototypes was to reduce the size compared to the PV60. During these years, VOLVO management was seriously developing the concept of a post-war car. In the same year, VOLVO buys a controlling stake in Kopings Mekaniska Verkstad AB, which has been supplying clutches and gearboxes since 1927. The capital of the joint stock company "VOLVO" began to amount to 37.5 million crowns.

1943

The project to develop a post-war car is well under way. New car the reduced size is called PV444. Its serial production was supposed to begin in the fall of 1944. It was an American concept with a European twist, with four-cylinder engine and rear wheel drive. This car was a great success

The main activity of "VOLVO" was the production of cars, therefore, in addition to production cars There were also experimental models. In the early 40s, the PV40 car was manufactured with a fundamentally new eight-cylinder engine producing 70 hp. However, the project did not go into production due to the high cost of the machine and, as a consequence, its uncompetitive selling price.

1944

In the spring of 1944, production of the PV444 prototype began. Four-cylinder small-displacement engine B4B with a power of 40 hp. had very low fuel consumption. This was the smallest engine in the entire history of VOLVO car production, and it was in this engine that valves began to be located in the cylinder head for the first time. The gearbox was three-speed with synchronizers for second and third gears. Lively interest was shown in this car at the VOLVO car exhibition in Stockholm. The selling price of this model was about 4800 CZK, which indicates a great success of the production, which after 17 years was able to reach the same selling price again. The first "Jacob" also cost 4800 CZK. During the exhibition there was

Helmer Petterson played an important role in the production of PV444.

Initially, he worked on gas generators at VOLVO. He owns many projects for the production of small cars. It was under his patronage that PV444 was born. 2300 orders for this model have been accepted. The PV444 was such a success that customers were willing to pay double the price to get the car without waiting in line. At the same exhibition, the PV60 model was presented, which became a successor to the pre-war model. This car was of high quality, its sales slightly exceeded the planned volumes and amounted to 3000 PV60 and 500 PV61.

1945

After the dizzying success of the PV444, sales began to fall. A protracted strike among workers and employees of the engineering industry was the reason for the postponement of plans for the production of new models. One of the prototypes of the proposed new models was driven across Sweden from Skani to Kiruna. The total mileage was 3000 km. Means mass media They called this car “the beauty of the automotive world.”

1946

A strike in mechanical engineering greatly slowed down the production process at VOLVO. The main problem was that there was nowhere to get components for the conveyor. Various attempts were made to locate suppliers in the US, but were unsuccessful. All these problems greatly reduced production volumes and, thereby, complicated the situation with the fulfillment of orders for car production.

1947

At the beginning of this year, ten modifications based on the PV444 were developed. Serial production began in February 1947. It was planned to produce 12 thousand cars of this series, with 10,181 cars already sold. However, it was not easy to immediately ramp up production after such serious economic problems, so the first PV444 appeared on the roads much later. The first 2,000 cars were sold at a loss, since the price of 4,800 crowns announced at one time in Stockholm was already unrealistic in 1947, and the PV444 car began to cost 8,000 crowns.

1948

The consequences of the Second World War for Sweden were almost unnoticeable, and this year VOLVO breaks all records for car production. About 3 thousand were produced, among which the majority were the PV444 series. Production of PV60 has increased significantly. At the same time, the 800th series for taxis was produced.

1949

Starting this year, VOLVO began to produce more passenger cars than trucks and buses. The production of a special version of the PV444 - PV444S - was launched. The body color became gray, contrary to traditional black, and the interior upholstery became red and gray. Structurally, the model has not received any changes. It was sold only on order, and its cost was higher than PV444. In 1949, the number of cars produced exceeded 100 thousand cars, of which 20 thousand were sold for export. The VOLVO company at that time had 6 thousand employees, of which 900 workers and 500 employees at the Gothenburg plant.

The Volvo concern, which has proven itself as a manufacturer of high-quality and reliable equipment, is one of the most influential representatives in Europe, in particular in the premium car segment. It has several factories specializing in the production different cars. The XC90 model for Russia is assembled in Sweden and Belgium. Chinese-assembled cars are sold on the Asian market.

Between 2000 and 2007, the Swedish brand practically did not develop, offering customers old models with a limited list of engines. The next year became decisive for the company and served as the starting point for its further successful development. This is explained by the conclusion of an alliance with the Chinese Geely. In fact, the Chinese bought a Swedish company, but the agreement still looks like a merger.

The Chinese manufacturer committed itself not to change the name of the Volvo brand, to leave Sweden as the country of origin, and not to use Swedish developments 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 brand's main European production facilities are concentrated in the Swedish city of Torslanda, as well as the Belgian Ghent.

Until 2013, a company operated in Sweden in Uddevalla, where the C70 model was produced. There are no other Volvo car assembly plants in Europe. In China, the assembly of Swedish cars is organized at a plant in Chengdu.

After the merger with the Chinese Geely, production volumes in Gothenburg did not decrease, but even increased. This was facilitated by significant Chinese investment.

Advantages of the merger:

• Serious investments made it possible to develop new cars, technologies and expand model range brand.
• Allowed us to exchange experiences with designers from Geely.
• The Chinese market opened up for Volvo, where its products were exempted from duties.
• The company's staff expanded, production lines were 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 dates were postponed.

The world debut of the model took place in 2014, and 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 called 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. The previous version of the car experienced similar success in 2003. In addition, the crossover showed best results in its class according to Euro Ncap.