Volvo

I haven’t really had time to think about the blog for a while but the world apparently haven’t stopped moving even so ;)


The purchase of Volvo Car Corporation is now a fact. Having worked at, and for, Volvo for quite some years I’ve followed the events with great interest. I know that the same people that have had issues with Ford will now have issues with Geely and think back at Ford as the “good old times”, that is inevitable but also quite natural since it’s a typical pessimistic way of life.

If I had still worked at Volvo I would think the separation from Ford or Europe would be sad… mostly because I enjoyed working with the people in Cologne (as the separation from Jaguar was sad since a lot of good guys worked there as well)… and in some ways FOE pushed VCC to excel and we learned a lot working together.

I also think that the people at VCC really learned how to work in an international environment something that of course will benefit them with a Chinese owner as well.

No one knows how the new owners really think, but I tend to have an optimistic view so maybe this is Volvo catching a break; a chance to become an even better company. Hopefully they have learned a lesson with regards to rigorous processes, large corporate frameworks and similar and choose to approach development in the future with a more lean approach.

If Li Shufu really means what he says then Volvo’s fate is in her own hands.