Volvo Car India to launch new luxury car models

05 June 2007

Mumbai: Volvo Car India, a division of Ford India is gearing up for its forthcoming car launches of the Volvo S80 (luxury sedan) and the Volvo XC90 (sports utility vehicle).

Volvo will introduce these two models with three engine offerings; 2.5 litre (diesel), 3.2-litre (petrol) and 4.4-litre (petrol) that will be available on both the models respectively; they will be available with a semi-automatic gearbox.

The vehicles are currently undergoing homologation process at the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) that is likely to be completed by August-September. The company would have launched the vehicles in 2006-end but due to delay in meeting certain homologation requirements from Volvo''s end the company is now scheduled to launch it this year-end.

The vehicles will be imported through the CBU (completely built unit) route from Sweden though it does make sense to use Ford India''s facility as and when the company decides to assemble its cars in the country.

There are also no plans for common platform strategy to be shared between the two companies. The company has identified Mumbai, Delhi and Chandigarh as primary cities where it would have its first set of dealerships present in the country.

The company would expand to Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Kochi, Kolkata and Jaipur at the end of 2008.