27 Votes

BMW seriously considering taking over Volvo

omarrana submitted on 5/9/2007 Official Bell & Ross Timestamp: 9:58:11 AM

39 user comments | Category: Misc News | Source: | SOURCE: www.egmcartech.com

Tag Links: BMW, Volvo

For those of you thought that Ford was going to get rid of Jaguar next we’ve got some news for you.

Industry experts have told AutoCar that BMW is seriously considering on making a bid to takeover Sweden auto maker Volvo. BMW has requested a complete breakdown of Volvo’s current financial position from a European investment bank. Source have said that BMW is looking to expand its lineup which has always been centered around driving pleasure and that Volvo would add a huge safety factor to the company’s focus.

If the takeover happens, it is expected that the larger Volvo saloons and estate models will be switched to BMW platforms while the smaller cars, like the Volvo C30, will be switched to the Mini family.

Sources also said that BMW considered taking over Alfa Romeo as well.

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BMW seriously considering taking over Volvo

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— omarrana (View Profile)

User Comments

The Rover group had no economy of production. It HAD to fail.

I really hope BMW injects some fun into the sensible Swedish brand.
M-division engineers working on the S80R! AWESOME!
— LexusNumberOne4ever (View Profile)

Posted on 5/9/2007 11:53:48 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

Why? They turned LR around. Without the BMW-produced Range Rover, Land Rover just wouldn't be where they are today.
— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 5/9/2007 6:36:55 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

Alfa Romeo would have a much better influence on BMW than Volvo would make.

BMW should concentrate on improving their engines in terms of Co2 emmissions
rather than taking over more car companies.
— david999 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/9/2007 10:28:53 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3

Excuse me but how will Alfa Romeo "influence" BMW who would theoretically be taking them over? BMW would be influencing them if it came to that.

And why would BMW want to take over Alfa Romeo? They're doing fine in Europe.
— Willis (View Profile)

Posted on 5/9/2007 11:41:20 AM | | Votes: 5

Willis, david999 always posts weird comments that make little sense. Ignore him.
— Bill (View Profile)

Posted on 5/10/2007 5:57:45 AM | | Votes: 1

Volvo cannot be compared to Rover. Rover had a history of money problems,quality control. Volvo has established multiple product lines,including wagons and Suv's. They also have a great reputation for safety. That said I'm not sure why BMW would want them. Volvo has car lines that directly compete with BMW's.
— mini22 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/9/2007 11:16:25 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5

No, I'm going to disagree with you on the point of Volvo 'directly' competing with BMW. I won't even start and go on and compare each of the two companies models since you should know what they are, I will say that the two companies have different markets and people they are trying to reach. Some of those do intersect but for the most part they don't compete with each other.

I would say that Volvo is a choice for someone who doesn't want to shell out the money for a BMW and can get "similar" features in a Volvo. It's almost the same as saying Saab competes with BMW (and I like Saab).
— Mark (View Profile)

Posted on 5/9/2007 11:52:13 AM | | Votes: 5

Mark - good point.
— CrunkieBrewster (View Profile)

Posted on 5/9/2007 12:09:31 PM | | Votes: 3

Indeed. Volvo has even said explicitly that it is not targeting BMW. I also doubt that a customer to be is considering these two brands at the same time.
Volvo attracts more intelligent, proper people. BMW attracts people that love to drive their cars and people who need to show of.
They have two different “Unique selling points”

I think BMW have a lot to gain from this suggestion. We all know that they have had some trouble building safe cars. At least readers of this site from Europe remembers that BMW had to rebuild the 5-series to get only a poor “4” in the Euro-Ncap. This compared to Volvo that was the first manufacture to receive a “4”, for the S40, way back in 1996 before safety became a “hot” thing.

It’s harder to see the point from Volvos perspective. Well, they do get a premium chassis to share with another premium brand then normal, basic, boring Ford stuff and also some, by far, better engines.

— Wallerstein (View Profile)

Posted on 5/9/2007 12:32:26 PM | | Votes: 1

"Volvo attracts more intelligent, proper people. BMW attracts people that love to drive their cars and people who need to show of."

That is annoying. There are so many people who are "intelligent, proper" who drive BMWs. The true scumbags are those who stereotype others.
— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 5/9/2007 6:39:18 PM | | Votes: 2

Mark, You think that people don't consider Volvo and BMW during the same car purchase? I've known more a few who did. Some went Volvo for safety and better reliability. Some went BMW for handling and status.
— mp2dtw (View Profile)

Posted on 5/9/2007 8:15:02 PM | | Votes: 2

"That is annoying. There are so many people who are "intelligent, proper" who drive BMWs. The true scumbags are those who stereotype others."

True. Don't get my wrong, I really like BMW. After all I am a München (Munich) person...

My point is, and generalizing a lot, that Volvo buyers and BMW buyers are normally not the same kind of persons. Sure, some people are actually thinking about both of these cars but they aren't that many.
— Wallerstein (View Profile)

Posted on 5/10/2007 1:19:08 PM | | Votes: 1

theyere the same type of people, just one has kids
— 1995e34 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/11/2007 1:04:17 PM | | Votes: 1

Interesting...but what would they do with it? Volvo doesn't sell very well in the UK, better than Alfa Romeo and Lexus, but worse than Land Rover...I just can't think what BMW would gain from this.
— Rupert (View Profile)

Posted on 5/9/2007 12:32:47 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

Reliability and a higher perception of safety by the public.
— r_driver04 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/9/2007 12:49:16 PM | | Votes: 0

I think BMW is doing okay as they are, r_driver.
— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 5/9/2007 6:41:34 PM | | Votes: 3

reliability??? safety??? ...wow
— 1995e34 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/10/2007 10:02:09 AM | | Votes: 1

That's pretty strong. Hopefully BMW would infuse Volvos with better handling. And Volvo could help BMW in their reliability and safety arenas. Could be interesting. And Rover and Volvo are nothing alike by the way. Volvo has helped Ford out tremendously with new platforms, technology and overall public perception.
— r_driver04 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/9/2007 12:42:05 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

Interesting arrangement. BMW would be so much better than Ford ownership for their engineering input and could help make a bonafide R lineup. Problem I see is that Volvo works best as FWD based cars for what Volvo targets.
— PPower (View Profile)

Posted on 5/9/2007 12:56:15 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

bmw buying volvo and/or alfa...sounds good. both could use good rwd platforms to base their models off of.

— 1995e34 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/9/2007 1:04:16 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

Volvo is a brand that just doesn't need to exist anymore. I would much rather see Jaguar or Alfa thrive than Volvo.
— supermoto (View Profile)

Posted on 5/9/2007 1:26:29 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -6

What's going on with Ford!?! They sold Aston Martin, now Volvo.

What are thay trying to do!?!

If they continue this way, soon they'll become N4 even behind Honda!!!
— OBSERVER1984 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/9/2007 3:02:14 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

What are trying to do?...Raise capital. They're broke.
— daytonaviolet (View Profile)

Posted on 5/9/2007 5:59:53 PM | | Votes: 3

BMW, please buy SAAB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
— hashoo (View Profile)

Posted on 5/9/2007 5:01:30 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

fwd clashes with rwd. can't share platforms.
— 1995e34 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/9/2007 6:05:27 PM | | Votes: 2

No way. Are you stoned? So that BMW can do for Volvo or Saab what it did for MG Rover? No thanks.
— mp2dtw (View Profile)

Posted on 5/9/2007 8:11:16 PM | | Votes: 2

or do what they did for land rover and rolls?
— 1995e34 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/9/2007 11:07:13 PM | | Votes: 2

I think GM has ruined Saab beyond repair.
— r_driver04 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/10/2007 3:59:32 PM | | Votes: 0

Volvo buyers are completely different from BMW buyers. Much more conservative anyway.

BMW and Volvo could coexist very well without stealing business from each other. And using each others strengths.
— daytonaviolet (View Profile)

Posted on 5/9/2007 6:02:32 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5

Well BMW & Volvo already share enough design characteristics.

I would like to see BMW take the Volvo brand more upscale to compete with & rival Lexus in terms of luxury, ride comfort & quality, cabin silent ness, & hybrid or other emission lowering technologies.

Let BMW focus on creating the best driving luxury cars out there & give Volvo more of a Lexus/MB mission statement, along with the company’s own solid statement of safety.
— MunichRob (View Profile)

Posted on 5/9/2007 9:43:23 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

Wow big news well we don't really know if Alan Mullaly is actually gonna let that happen. Actually the only thing BMW put in Land Rover is more technology that made it more unreliable. Ford actually did most of the hard work struggling to get it where it is today. By the way I just saw the new Discovery and Range Rover Sport today fabulous vehicles.RR Sport turbocharged(or maybe supercharged not really sure) diesel thats one great engine with performance and good mileage
— jt716 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/9/2007 10:11:39 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

Ford didn't do anything but introduce better manufacturing. Jaguar/Land Rover engineers did all the hard work on the actual vehicles. The LR3 and RR Sport were tuned for the road by Jaguar engineers while the off road capability was tuned by Land Rover.
— urbansouljah (View Profile)

Posted on 5/10/2007 12:53:46 PM | | Votes: 1

Even the 2.7L diesel was actually developed by Jaguar/PSA. Then tuned by Land Rover for the LR3. The PSA version isn't as smooth and quiet though. The actual deal was made with PSA and Ford with production taking place at Ford's Dagenham Engine Plant
— urbansouljah (View Profile)

Posted on 5/10/2007 12:57:23 PM | | Votes: 1

True
— r_driver04 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/10/2007 4:00:50 PM | | Votes: 1

Ford has given Land Rover the best reliability it's ever seen. And it still sucks. BMW infused Rover with the tech. goodies and then let the consumers R&D the vehicles. Ford's helped Jaguar too and again they still suck. Weird people buy Jags anyway. I can't see why anyone would buy a $70K Plus car that won't start in the morning. They say after you've owned a Rover or Jag once, you'll never buy another one.
— r_driver04 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/10/2007 4:05:18 PM | | Votes: 1

hmm i dont think ford would want that. volvo has been helping a lot with the profit of ford.
— arcy (View Profile)

Posted on 5/10/2007 5:06:23 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

As a consumer, I would welcome BMW buying Volvo from Ford. Then I hope that BMW makes Volvo orient its in-line 6-cylinder engine North-South instead of East-West. I don't give a hoot about safety as I am a careful driver but I do like Volvo's comfortable seats. I have kept Volvo off my shopping list only becasuse it is a Ford company and my past experience with Ford products has been negative. Given Ford's current financial bleeding, they may well end up selling Volvo to someone like BMW.
— EnnNorak (View Profile)

Posted on 5/11/2007 11:22:46 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

What do the cardinal directions have to do with anything? Most FWD cars use a tranverse mount because of the transaxle. RWD cars will use a North South for the same reason. Right? Look at Porsche or Subaru with their boxer engines. Besides, most accidents aren't necessarily the "safe" drivers fault, it's the other idiots!!
— r_driver04 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/14/2007 3:06:05 PM | | Votes: 1

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BMW seriously considering taking over Volvo

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