5 ms·

Volvo is owned by Geely. Personally, I'm not sure those count as an example of China's design prowess, since those cars aren't designed in China.

bri3d 4y ago
I think that most conversations about where cars are designed or made aren't very clear cut with the _exception_ of a lot of Chinese brand cars, which is an interesting commentary in and of itself. For example, Polestar cars are designed in Sweden on joint Swedish-Chinese engineered platforms and made in China. Most vehicles are highly globalized like this until you get to the Chinese-market ones, which are designed (or "designed," depending), engineered, manufactured, and sold just in China.
tpmx 4y ago
The now public Volvo Cars is majority-owned by Geely. (Volvo Cars, not Volvo.) Volvo makes trucks, buses and construction equipment. It's one of the largest manufacturers of heavy-duty trucks globally, including e.g. the Mack brand. Geely owns 8.2% of Volvo. I think it's still majority Swedish-owned, but I'm not certain. They share the Volvo brand via a long-standing agreement.
- netsharc 4y ago
  And fascinatingly in China there's a construction machine manufacturer who uses the brand... Lovol.
  - tpmx 4y ago
    Of course there is.
  - userbinator 4y ago
    They should advertise their products as being quieter than the competition.
cycomanic 4y ago
Also I would add that Geely really revitalised the Volvo car brand after Ford almost ran it into the ground. The Geely Volvos have a much clearer (and better looking IMO) design and are strongly pushing into the luxury market.
sangnoir 4y ago
> I'm not sure those count as an example of China's design prowess, since those cars aren't designed in China How about manufacturing prowess then? A number of Volvo/Polestar models are only made in China. Design is far easier to outsource or hire lead designer from Germany/Switzerland/Italy while bootstrapping talent locally, compared to manufacturing. KIA went this route to good effect by hiring Peter Schreyer.

bri3d 4y ago

I think that most conversations about where cars are designed or made aren't very clear cut with the _exception_ of a lot of Chinese brand cars, which is an interesting commentary in and of itself. For example, Polestar cars are designed in Sweden on joint Swedish-Chinese engineered platforms and made in China. Most vehicles are highly globalized like this until you get to the Chinese-market ones, which are designed (or "designed," depending), engineered, manufactured, and sold just in China.

tpmx 4y ago

The now public Volvo Cars is majority-owned by Geely. (Volvo Cars, not Volvo.) Volvo makes trucks, buses and construction equipment. It's one of the largest manufacturers of heavy-duty trucks globally, including e.g. the Mack brand. Geely owns 8.2% of Volvo. I think it's still majority Swedish-owned, but I'm not certain. They share the Volvo brand via a long-standing agreement.

netsharc 4y ago
And fascinatingly in China there's a construction machine manufacturer who uses the brand... Lovol.
- tpmx 4y ago
  Of course there is.
- userbinator 4y ago
  They should advertise their products as being quieter than the competition.

cycomanic 4y ago

Also I would add that Geely really revitalised the Volvo car brand after Ford almost ran it into the ground. The Geely Volvos have a much clearer (and better looking IMO) design and are strongly pushing into the luxury market.

sangnoir 4y ago

> I'm not sure those count as an example of China's design prowess, since those cars aren't designed in China How about manufacturing prowess then? A number of Volvo/Polestar models are only made in China. Design is far easier to outsource or hire lead designer from Germany/Switzerland/Italy while bootstrapping talent locally, compared to manufacturing. KIA went this route to good effect by hiring Peter Schreyer.