Volvo News: Volvo Scraps Production Plans In An Effort To Dodge Tariffs

[William Maley]

Back in the summer, Volvo opened its first plant in South Carolina where it would be producing the all-new S60 sedan. The original plan was to export half of the S60s built to other markets. But the current trade dispute between the U.S. and China has caused Volvo to change their plans.

Anders Gustafsson, president of Volvo Cars USA said at a meeting of the Automotive Press Association in Detroit that the automaker is changing the focus of the South Carolina factory to build S60s for the U.S. market. A small number of S60s will still be exported to Europe.

“We’ll go at this change not with a smile, but we know what we need to do. We have a global manufacturing structure that helps us maneuver in these tough waters,” said Gustafsson.

Back in July, Volvo announced that it would be sourcing XC60s destined for the U.S. from Europe. Previously, XC60s heading to the U.S. were coming from China. The move is expected to take place in January. Right now, Volvo is absorbing the 27.5 percent tariff on Chinese auto imports on the XC60. But Gustafsson said that is taking a big toll on their profits.

“We are absorbing the tariffs, and that really is what you saw in our financial results. But we can, under no circumstances, absorb tariffs in the long run. It’s huge,” he said.

The tariffs could also affect future plans for the South Carolina plant. Volvo is planning to have production of the next-generation XC90 take place in the U.S. beginning in 2022. This would increase the number of workers from 1,200 to 3,900. Volvo will export some XC90s to Europe, but also considering exporting some China at a loss.

"We might need to make the XC90 in another country too, if tariffs keep up," said Gustafsson.

Source: Bloomberg (Subscription Required), Motor Trend

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[G. David Felt]

Trade wars can be good if approached in a professional way. Sadly the bully on the playground approach is Hurting US consumers, Hurting US Jobs and the wages of US citizens. Long term, less money in your pocket to buy stuff.

[riviera74]

48 minutes ago, dfelt said:

Trade wars can be good if approached in a professional way. Sadly the bully on the playground approach is Hurting US consumers, Hurting US Jobs and the wages of US citizens. Long term, less money in your pocket to buy stuff.

The bully only cares about the bully and nobody else.  Hence why trade wars can be misused or abused by said bully.

[G. David Felt]

1 hour ago, riviera74 said:

The bully only cares about the bully and nobody else.  Hence why trade wars can be misused or abused by said bully.

Sadly we seem to be in an era of Bully's around the glob.

[A Horse With No Name]

43 minutes ago, dfelt said:

Sadly we seem to be in an era of Bully's around the glob.

The darker the world gets the more I like the inside of my garage workshop.  And given the current state of the world...I am glad my shop doesn't have any windows...

Volvo is building some sweet looking Iron though, so I wish them well.