Presst5v,,, China is to start exporting domestically-manufactured Volvo sedans to the United States for the first time ever, the company has announced.
Volvo Car Group’s president and chief executive officer, Hakan Samuelson, made the announcement at the Detroit auto show on Monday.
Samuelson said the shipping of a new S60 model, manufactured in China, to the US will start in mid-2015.
Volvo was purchased by China's Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co. in 2010.
The new S60s are to be built at a state-of-the-art factory in Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan Province, under strict Volvo standards.
"It's built like a Volvo in every way. You can't tell the difference between a Volvo built in China and Volvo built in Gothenburg (Sweden) or Ghent (Belgium)," added Samuelson.
Referring to the potential skepticism that may arise over a made-in-China vehicle, he said Volvo sales personnel around the US will be trained to assure customers that the cars are identical to those built in Belgium or Sweden.
Samuelson added that due to tariffs and regulations, the S60 will not be exported to European countries.
Volvo is currently overhauling its product line in the US, he said.
SRK/MHB/SS