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Volvo Cars Product Offensive 2009: New models demand focus on quality and efficiency to reach 600,000 cars by 2009

 

 

Volvo Cars is facing the most intensive period of new car launches ever in the company's history.  During the next three years Volvo Car Corporation will launch seven new models and in order to succeed with this product offensive quality and efficiency will be key. “Speed and precision in development, production and delivery is top priority for all of us at Volvo during this intensive period,” says Fredrik Arp, President and CEO of Volvo Car Corporation.
 
Volvo Cars’ main objective is to create profitable growth by 2009 and reach the long-term retail target of 600,000 cars.
“In my opinion, the qualifiers for achieving this are improved product quality, further development of our car portfolio and putting more effort into developing the markets; the traditional markets, as well as emerging ones,” says Fredrik Arp.

 

“But in the short-term the most important issue is to increase efficiency and integration in the industrial system and at the same time continue to make use of the scale advantages in the Ford Enterprise,” he continues.

 

Several initiatives are already underway in Manufacturing, R&D and in the Marketing, Sales and Services organisation. To further support these initiatives changes will also be made in the Volvo Cars (VCC)organisation.

 

Effective as of March 1, Steven Armstrong, currently Senior Vice President for Purchasing, has been appointed the new Chief Operating Officer at Volvo Car Corporation. Steven will manage the daily operations of R&D, Manufacturing, Purchasing and Quality. The Senior Vice Presidents of these units will report to the COO and continue to be members of the Volvo Cars Management Team.

 

Effective as of March 1, Albie van Buel has been appointed Senior Vice President for Purchasing, replacing Steven Armstrong. Albie is currently Director of Purchasing for Body Exterior and Interior.

 

Magnus Jonsson will become the new Senior Vice President for Research & Development as of May 1. Magnus is currently Executive Director of IOS at FoE/PAG. He previously held a position as Senior Vice President for Project Management at VCC.

 

Hans Folkesson, Senior Vice President for Research and Development, has elected to take early retirement at the end of 2006. In the meantime, between May 1 and December 31, Hans will have a special assignment as Senior Project Leader for Environmental Technologies at Ford European Operations.

 

For more information, please contact:
Olle Axelson, +46-708-20 90 00
Christer Gustafsson, +46-708-20 80 15

 

50200/OA/CG

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