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☆ Americans have been driving these Chinese-built cars for years — and Biden's tariffs likely won't impact them
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Benjamin Zhang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Read previewOf the more than 15 million cars sold in the US last year, none wore the badge of a Chinese car brand. With the government's existing 27.5% tariffs on Chinese-made cars and Tuesday's new 100% tariffs on Chinese-made EVs imported to the US, the situation isn't likely to change anytime soon. AdvertisementAccording to Automotive News data, US consumers purchased more than 104,000 Chinese-made vehicles in 2023, up 45% from 2022. Americans bought another 28,000 Chinese-made cars during the first quarter of 2024. Here's a closer look at the Chinese-made cars on sale in the US.

Persons: —, Volvo's, Here's Organizations: Service, EV, SAIC, Business, Buick's, Automotive News, Buick, Lincoln, Volvo, Geely Automotive, Biden Locations: China, Polestar, South Carolina

☆ Volvo Cars' promise of EV boom falls on deaf ears as shares drop 12%
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Marie Mannes | Thomson Reuters | Stockholm-Based Company News Correspondent Who Mainly Covers Anything To Do With Retail | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

As the company reported third-quarter earnings, Chief Executive Jim Rowan told Reuters that he saw healthy demand for its cars, and was optimistic the margins would increase further in the fourth quarter. Volvo's BEV margins were 9% in the quarter, a sharp increase from the previous quarter's figure of 3%. Rowan said he expected the trend of falling prices of raw materials to continue, helping the company increase margins further for the fourth quarter. Investors proved unconvinced, as Volvo shares, down 10% by 1014 GMT, after having fallen as much as 12%, looked set for their biggest ever one-day drop. EV makers have engaged in stiff competition this year, after Tesla ignited a price war intensified by new Chinese players.

Persons: Aly, Jim Rowan, EVs, BEV, Rowan, Jefferies, Philippe Houchois, Houchois, Tesla, China's Geely, Marie Mannes, Greta Rosen Fondahn, Terje Solsvik, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: Volvo, Auto Shanghai, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Benz, Motors, Ford, Volkswagen, China's, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, Rights STOCKHOLM, EVs

☆ It could take a decade for other automakers to catch Tesla — and none are 'leading contenders' just yet, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Alexa St. John | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . EV sales are growing — they hit a record 300,000 sales in the US by Q3 — but it's happening at a less rapid pace than many in the industry were anticipating. Pricing, lacking infrastructure, and macroeconomic factors will continue to influence buyers' uptake of EVs other than Teslas, the Cloud Theory report said. As such, Cloud Theory experts say: "No company — not even Tesla — is guaranteed a seat at the head table."

Persons: Tesla, —, Theory, Elon, Rick Wainschel, It's Organizations: Service, Cox Automotive, Ford, Chevrolet, EV, Manhattan Locations: China

☆ Volvo braces for slower truck markets next year after Q3 profit beat
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Volvo logo is seen in truck for sale in Linden, New Jersey, U.S., May 23, 2022. Its adjusted operating profit margin widened to 14.4% from 10.3% as price hikes made up for higher costs. The company predicted the European and North American heavy truck markets would total 290,000 vehicles each in 2024. "We expect our major truck markets to continue to be strong throughout this year as we continue to deliver from our large order books to customers, but (we) forecast lower market levels for next year," Lundstedt said. Reporting by Marie Mannes and Marta Frąckowiak; editing by Anna Ringstrom and Jason NeelyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Martin Lundstedt, Lundstedt, Hampus Engellau, Marie Mannes, Marta Frąckowiak, Anna Ringstrom, Jason Neely Organizations: Volvo, REUTERS, LSEG, Thomson Locations: Linden , New Jersey, U.S, STOCKHOLM, Swedish, American, Gothenburg, Russia, North America, Europe

☆ Volvo to end diesel car production by early 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Nick Carey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Volvo reveals their new Volvo EX30 fully-electric small SUV vehicle during an event in Milan, Italy June 7, 2023. REUTERS/Claudia Greco/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Volvo Cars (VOLCARb.ST) said on Tuesday that it will end production of any remaining diesel models by early 2024 as it heads towards becoming an all-electric carmaker. "In a few months from now, the last diesel-powered Volvo car will have been built, making Volvo Cars one of the first legacy car makers to take this step," the Swedish company said in a statement. Sales of diesel models have declined rapidly in Europe since Volkswagen's (VOWG_p.DE) emission-cheating scandal and carmakers have been gradually reducing the number of diesel models available in their model lineups. Diesel vehicles comprised more than 50% of Europe's new car sales in 2015, but accounted for just over 14% of sales in July.

Persons: Claudia Greco, China's Geely, Nick Carey, Louise Heavens Organizations: Volvo, REUTERS, HK, Diesel, Thomson Locations: Milan, Italy, Swedish, Europe

☆ Volvo's Russian assets transferred to Russian investor - industry ministry
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Volvo logo is seen in truck for sale in Linden, New Jersey, U.S., May 23, 2022. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsMOSCOW, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Swedish truck maker Volvo AB's Russian assets (VOLVb.ST) have been transferred to an undisclosed Russian investor, the Ministry of Industry and Trade said in a statement. Volvo suspended all sales, service and production in Russia in February 2022, and said last October that further write-downs might be necessary. In 2021, Russia accounted for about 3% of its net group sales of about 372 billion Swedish crowns ($33.4 billion). The invasion triggered a host of Western economic sanctions, and threats by Russia to seize Western businesses based there.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Igor Kim, Alexei Sannikov, Kim, Kevin Liffey, David Evans Organizations: Volvo, REUTERS, Rights, Ministry of Industry, Trade, carmakers Volkswagen, Mercedes, Benz, Nissan, Toyota, Renault, BMW, Kia, Hyundai, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Linden , New Jersey, U.S, Swedish, Russia, Kaluga, Ukraine

☆ I got an early look at Volvo's $34,950 electric SUV and saw why it's one of the best Tesla rivals yet
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

I got an early look at Volvo's $35,000 electric SUV coming in 2024. The little EX30 packs an estimated 275 miles of range and a stylish, minimalist interior. It's one of the most exciting Tesla rivals yet. The little SUV serves up stylish looks, enough range for most people, and a minimalist interior that improves upon the sort of uncluttered, tech-forward design that Tesla pioneered. All that, plus the electric SUV's bargain-bin starting price, makes the EX30 one of the most exciting Tesla rivals coming down the pike.

Persons: Elon Musk's Tesla, Tesla Organizations: Volvo

[1/4] President and CEO of AB Volvo Martin Lundstedt is seen on the day of the presentation of Volvo Group's Q2 2023 earnings report, in Gothenburg, Sweden, July 19, 2023. Adam Ihse/TT News Agency/via REUTERSCompanies Volvo AB FollowSTOCKHOLM, July 19 (Reuters) - Swedish truckmaker AB Volvo (VOLVb.ST) on Wednesday logged a better-than-expected 57% jump in second-quarter adjusted operating profit, helped by price hikes. "We have been successful in improving margins while managing cost inflation and increased disturbances in the supply chain," Chief Executive Martin Lundstedt said in a statement. Operating profit before restructuring charges and legal claims surged to 21.7 billion crowns ($2.1 billion), beating a Refinitiv consensus estimate of 18.4 billion crowns. Reporting by Marie Mannes; editing by Anna Ringstrom, Jason Neely and Edwina GibbsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Volvo Martin Lundstedt, Adam Ihse, Martin Lundstedt, Lundstedt, Marie Mannes, Anna Ringstrom, Jason Neely, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Volvo, TT, Agency, REUTERS Companies Volvo, STOCKHOLM, truckmaker, JPMorgan, Thomson Locations: Gothenburg, Sweden, Europe, North America, Stockholm

☆ Volvo just became the latest EV maker to move to Tesla's charging standard
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( John Rosevear | In Jrosevear | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Volvo will add the locations of Tesla charging stations to its proprietary app at the same time. Most non-Tesla EVs and charging stations in the U.S. use a rival plug design, the public-domain Combined Charging System standard. Tesla's NACS charging plug design was proprietary until late last year, when Tesla published the technical details of its system and said anyone could adopt the standard. Several studies have found that CCS charging networks have much lower reliability than Tesla's network. In addition, the CCS fast-charging plug is larger and heavier than Tesla's NACS plug, making it cumbersome for older or disabled drivers to use.

Persons: Volvo's, Tesla, Jim Rowan Organizations: Volvo Cars, North America, Tesla, American, Ford Motor, General Motors, Hyundai, Chrysler, Volvo, Detroit automakers, CCS, ABB Locations: U.S, Swedish, North, North America

☆ Volvo EVs to now have access to Tesla superchargers
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 27 (Reuters) - Swedish carmaker Volvo Cars (VOLCARb.ST) said on Tuesday it had signed an agreement with Tesla (TSLA.O) to give its electric vehicles (EVs) access to the EV maker's Supercharger network in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The deal makes Volvo the first European automaker to adopt Tesla's North American Charging Standard (NACS), adding to the slew of EV makers and charging equipment manufacturers taking up the technology. Tesla's Superchargers account for about 60% of the total fast chargers available in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Its recent deals represent major strides in displacing rival standard CCS that earlier exclusively had the backing of President Joe Biden's administration. The government is offering $7.5 billion in funding to speed the deployment of EV chargers in the United States.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Akash Sriram, Maju Samuel Organizations: Volvo, Tesla, EV, Rivian Automotive Inc, General Motors, U.S . Department of Energy, Thomson Locations: Swedish, United States, Canada, Mexico, California, Bengaluru

☆ Truck maker Volvo posts record Q1 as sales, margins beat forecasts
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Its adjusted operating profit rose 45% to 18.4 billion Swedish crowns ($1.76 billion) for the January-March quarter, well above the 12.9 billion expected by analysts polled by Refinitiv Eikon. Volvo's preliminary net sales for the quarter rose to 131.4 billion crowns from 105.3 billion and topped the 118.6 billion expected by analysts. Net sales in the truck segment rose to 89.6 billion crowns from 69.6 billion, beating a forecast of 79.7 billion. The division's operating profit jumped to 12.7 billion from 8.7 billion while analysts expected a decline to 8.4 billion. ($1 = 10.4303 Swedish crowns)Reporting by Terje Solsvik; editing by Sonali Paul and Jason NeelyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Truck maker Volvo posts record Q1 as sales and margins rise
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

OSLO, April 12 (Reuters) - Truck maker AB Volvo (VOLVb.ST) reported record first-quarter profits as revenue and margins rose, a preliminary filing showed late on Tuesday, in a sign the Swedish company had begun to overcome bottlenecks and inflation that hampered the industry. The group's adjusted January-March operating profit rose 45% year-on-year to 18.4 billion Swedish crowns ($1.76 billion), exceeding the mean expectation of 12.9 billion crowns in a Refinitiv poll of analysts. Volvo's preliminary net sales for the quarter stood at 131.4 billion crowns, up from 105.3 billion a year ago, while analysts on average predicted 118.6 billion according to the poll. The company's adjusted operating margin rose to 14.0% from 12.0% a year ago, and earnings at the group's two major divisions, truck making and construction equipment, both showed progress compared to the same quarter of 2022. ($1 = 10.4303 Swedish crowns)Reporting by Terje Solsvik; Editing by Tom HogueOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Volvo Buses to restructure in Europe, hitting 1,600 jobs
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

OSLO, March 16 (Reuters) - Volvo Group (VOLVb.ST) will restructure its European bus-making operation in a bid to restore it to profitability, divesting from a Polish plant and axing 1,600 jobs, the Swedish company said on Thursday. Volvo Buses will change its business model in Europe to focus on chassis production while cooperating with external companies for the bodybuilding, in line with a strategy pursued in other markets, it said. "The decision to end the production of complete buses and coaches will impact approximately 1,600 positions at Volvo Buses, whereof around 1,500 are based in Wroclaw," the group said in a statement. Volvo will still have more than 2,100 employees in Poland working at Volvo Trucks, Volvo Construction Equipment and group support functions, the company added. ($1 = 10.5567 Swedish crowns)Reporting by Terje Solsvik, editing by Gwladys FoucheOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

"We don't see (price cuts) at this point in time," Rowan told Reuters. "Demand for our (battery electric vehicles) is the highest that we've ever seen, the backlog for that as well." Those price cuts are expected to hit EV startups like U.S. firm Rivian RIVN.O more than established brands. Henrik Fisker, CEO of U.S. EV maker Fisker (FSR.N), told Reuters he also has no plans to lower prices, arguing that the EV startup's cars were already competitively priced. Despite the price cuts, some suppliers say they have seen no EV production surge so far.

☆ Review: The Polestar 2 is a $65,000 electric sedan from Volvo with all the allure of an early Tesla
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( Alanis King | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The Polestar 2's gold brake calipers. Alanis KingThe 2 is an electric sedan from Polestar, a new EV brand by Volvo. Alanis KingThe 2's interior is simple, airy, and spacious. The Polestar 2's headlight assembly. Alanis KingThe 2 has virtually no wind or road noise on the highway, the brakes are strong, and there's barely any body roll.

☆ Volvo says it won't charge for basic software updates like heated seats after backlash against BMW's pay-to-heat plans
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-22 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Car companies want to make extra money by charging car owners for software updates. Volvo won't ask owners to pay up for minor upgrades like heated seats, its COO told Bloomberg. As some rivals seek to monetize every corner of car ownership, Volvo won't charge extra for minor software updates and feature upgrades, according to an executive. He said Volvo could ask owners to pay up for a significant update like a self-driving system. Volvo's approach is markedly different from competitors that are pushing the limits of what customers will pay extra for.

☆ Turned off Tesla by Elon Musk? Here are 4 great electric alternatives to its sedans and SUVs.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Instead of a Model S, consider:The 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 580. Tim Levin/InsiderTesla's Model S sedan has historically been the electric car against which all new EVs are measured. Instead of a Model X, consider:The Rivian R1S. Rivian SUVs are backordered into oblivion as the company ramps up production, but they are available lightly used. Tim Levin/InsiderThere's a swarm of small electric SUVs on offer from Ford, Volkswagen, Audi, Volvo, and more.

☆ Facebook employees react to being laid off
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Jordan Parker Erb | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

After the company let go thousands of employees on Wednesday, some took to social media to discuss being fired and search for new jobs. Meta employees are taking to social media to discuss layoffs. After the company laid off more than 11,000 workers, some are turning to LinkedIn or Twitter to share their accounts of the layoffs and search for new jobs. Regulatory filings show Musk sold 19.5 million of the company's shares following his $44 billion Twitter buyout. Microsoft's former VP of HR shares three questions job candidates can use to nail an interview.

The carmaker is calling the seven-seat SUV its new flagship vehicle, starting at under $80,000. The company said production of the car is expected to begin in the U.S. next year, with production in China to follow. The car also marks the introduction of Luminar Technologies' lidar system as standard equipment in a commercially built vehicle. Many in the automotive industry believe lidar is the next-generation of safety technology and a step closer to more highly-automated or autonomous vehicles. All EX90s will come standard with a lidar sensor and related software from Florida-based Luminar.

☆ See Volvo's new, high-tech electric SUV that can tell if you're drunk, power your house, and go 300 miles without charging
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

Volvo is all about safety, so it included a huge array of cameras and sensors to help the EX90 "see" the world around it and react. Lots of computing power ties everything together. The Volvo EX90.

☆ Luminar says it has begun production of its automotive lidar units ahead of schedule
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( John Rosevear | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Automotive sensor company Luminar said it has begun production of its Iris lidar units for an automaker client, a major milestone that it had previously expected to reach around year-end. Luminar's lidar units are part of an advanced driver-assist system on the Rising Auto R7, a new electric SUV from the largest Chinese automaker, SAIC Motor. Luminar previously announced deals to supply other automakers including Volvo Cars and Polestar, but it hadn't previously revealed plans to begin production of the Iris units earlier than 2023. The lidar units are being made in a factory in Mexico owned by Canadian electronics manufacturer Celestica. Celestica and Luminar are together building a new dedicated factory, also in Mexico, that will be able to manufacture 250,000 Iris units per year.

☆ The execs behind Super Bowl ads for brands like Mars, ViacomCBS, and Heinz share how ideas come to be — and what makes them go viral
▼ + stars: | 2022-01-27 | by ( Jenny Powers | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Insider asked three ad-industry execs who've worked on Super Bowl spots what it takes to succeed. 4 in last year's top 10 Super Bowl LV commercials, according to USA Today's Ad Meter. In 2015, the web-hosting company sparked massive outrage over a spot it planned to run during the Super Bowl. "The Super Bowl is a brand's opportunity to surprise viewers and give them something they didn't see coming. Neither Newcastle campaign, If We Made It or Band of Brands, was actually aired during the Super Bowl.

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