Volvo Plug-In Hits the Road

Last fall Volvo showed off its ReCharge plug-in hybrid concept at the Frankfurt auto show. Now the Swedish arm of Ford says it’s going to press ahead with the plug-in program–and in fact, they’re already on the road, according to thecarconnection.com

C/Net, the car-tech gurus, reports that Volvo’s plug-in hybrid is on the road, in a test with the Swedish government. Also hooked into the program are colleagues over at GM’s Saab brand and the Swedish power company Vattenfall.

Over five years, the companies will field a fleet of 10 plug-in hybrids to evaluate their feasibility. Volvo says it’s also going to confirm which of its vehicles will go hybrid during the course of the next five years.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 3:48 PM | Permalink

Volvo Chief Sees a Plus in Shrinking Done by Ford

GENEVA — For Volvo, the Swedish maker of safe, sturdy cars, life is getting lonely, according to The New York Times.

Its aristocratic English cousins in the Ford Motor Company family, Jaguar and Land Rover, are in the final stages of being sold to Tata Motors of India, leaving Volvo as Ford’s only European luxury brand.

It does not help that Ford hemmed and hawed for months over whether to sell Volvo — BMW was a rumored buyer — before deciding in November to hold on to the 81-year-old company.

Now, however, Volvo sees a silver lining in being left behind. With Jaguar and Land Rover no longer competing for Ford’s money and attention, the Volvo chief executive, Fredrik Arp, says his company will be able to get more out of its financially stressed parent.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:02 AM | Permalink

Ford-owned Volvo Cars recalls 56,000 vehicles

STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- Volvo Cars said Thursday it was recalling 56,000 vehicles because of two separate problems, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Volvo Cars spokeswoman Maria Bohlin said 38,000 diesel cars of the S60, V 70 XC 70 and XC 90 models made in 2006 were being called back in Europe due to a material fault that could cause the motor catching fire. The second callback, involving 18,000 of the company's latest V 70 and XC 70 models, relates to an air bag problem in the side of the car.

Bohlin said the fuel injector plants or bolts, located on top of the motor cylinder, were faulty, potentially causing diesel to leak out into the motor.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:40 AM | Permalink