Volvo's Doug Speck on AutoLine Detroit
October 09, 2009
Doug Speck, president and CEO of Volvo Cars North America, is in the guest chair on this 
week's AutoLine Detroit with Edmunds' AutoObserver Michelle Krebs, Business Week's David Welch and show host John McElroy firing the questions at him.
The show is available now on AutoLine Detroit's Web site and airs on Detroit Public Television on Sunday, October 11 at 10:30 a.m.
Volvo was put on the auction block by Ford Motor Co. a couple of years ago. Ford eportedly has bids for the 82-year-old Swedish marque from Chinese automaker Geely, which just got a boost financially and in image with an investment by Goldman, and Crown Consortium, a group of former Ford executives with some private equity funds.
But no matter what goes on at the ownership level, the beat goes on for Speck and Volvo.
New products linked with a new strategy are, the company hopes, leading the way to new 
customers. At least that's the plan for this mid-luxury brand, said Speck. He talks to the panel about some of the new products, like the well-received XC60 CUV and next year's new flagship sedan the S60, and how he expects they will match up against the competition.
Speck also gives an update on the Volvo mantra -- safety -- and how the company intends to stay a step up on everyone, especially since safety plays such a big role in almost all of today's vehicles. He talks about Volvo's goal to make its vehicles so safe that no one will be killed in a Volvo by 2020.
Photo by Volvo
2010 Volvo XC60
Posted by Michelle Krebs at 10:15 AM under Ford , In the Media , Personalities | Comments (1) | digg this | Seed Newsvine
Wonder how badly it would hurt Ford's bottom line if they kept Volvo?
Posted by: thejohnp | October 09, 2009 at 10:57 AM