SHANGHAI — Volvo Cars and its Chinese owner are gearing up to export more premium cars to world markets.
Outlining its latest strategy this week, the Swedish brand unveiled upgraded versions of its upscale S90 sedan range, which will be manufactured entirely in China for export, signaling growing confidence in its Chinese production base.
Design touches on some of the S90 models also highlighted Volvo’s focus on the vital Chinese auto market. Most notably, a “super luxury” version replaces the front passenger seat with a touch-screen console, with space to store shoes underneath, a feature clearly aimed at China’s chauffeur-driven executives.
Volvo and its parent company Zhejiang Geely Holdings also announced plans for a factory to make compact cars based on a new shared platform, including vehicles for Geely’s just-launched “connected car” brand, Lynk & Co.
It’s part of Volvo Cars’ efforts to compete with other luxury car brands both globally and within China, the world’s No. 1 market, after it was bought by Geely in 2010.
The new plant will produce Volvo’s new 40 series based on its Compact Modular Architecture platform, which will also be used for Lynk & Co. vehicles, a brand Geely launched last month.
The factory, currently under construction in Luqiao, 220 miles south of Shanghai, is owned by Geely but will be operated by Volvo.
The platform is one of just two underpinning Volvo’s entire lineup.
They give the company flexibility to build a wide range of vehicle sizes and body styles, helping it compete with bigger rivals.
Volvo added a long wheelbase version of its top-of-the-line S90 sedan as well as the “super luxury” Excellence edition aimed at China’s chauffeured business class, who typically desire a more spacious back seat.
The S90 Excellence’s “lounge console” with its touch-screen monitor on retractable arms takes all of the front passenger side. The car comes with a panoramic sunroof and handmade Swedish crystal glasses.
A Volvo factory in Chengdu in central Sichuan province in China produces midsize S60 cars, which the company started exporting last year to the United States.
First Published November 5, 2016, 4:00 a.m.
