Wanted: 50 Volvo employees in China
Published: 12 Oct 10 15:27 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/29570/20101012/
Volvo Cars is looking to relocate about 50 employees from Sweden to China as more details emerge about Geely’s plans for the Swedish carmaker's operations in China.
- Volvo scraps COO post in management reshuffle (5 Oct 10)
- China's Geely outlines ambitious Volvo plans (14 Sep 10)
- Geely to build large Volvo factory in China (20 Aug 10)
However, it remains unclear exactly where the Volvo factory will be set up.
”We’re not going to build something new, in any case,” Sällström told the TT news agency.
The first wave of 50 Volvo employees is just the start, however.
”This is what we need in the first phase. Then we can expand,” said Sällström.
Last week it was revealed that Lars Danielson, head of Volvo’s Torslanda factory outside of Gothenburg in western Sweden, will oversee production in China.
He will report to Volvo’s head of China operations, Freeman Shen, formerly deputy CEO of Geely Group.
Volvo also plans to hire around 200 local employees with varying skill sets.
”There are a lot of capable Chinese engineers. But we also want to have our own people becuase they have competence about Volvo,” said Sällström.
Plans call for Volvo’s new S60 to be built in the Chinese factory, which is expected to be operating at full capacity by 2012, according to Sällström.
Areas being scouting for Volvo’s factory include the Shanghai region, as well as Chongqing and Chengdu, both located in southwestern China.
In Chongqing, Volvo’s previous owners, US automaker Ford, cooperated with Changan Motors to manufacture the Volvo S40 as well as elongated versions of the S80.
As a result, about 15 Volvo employees are already in China and Sällström expects production at the site to continue for two to three more years.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
Pay deal averts Midsummer train chaos
Midsummer revellers can breathe a sigh of relief after employers and unions agreed a new pay deal and averted a train strike that promised to wreak havoc over the holiday weekend. READ () »
H&M blames long winter for profit drop
Swedish clothes manufacturer H&M posted a larger than expected drop in quarterly profit on Wednesday, citing the unusually harsh winter in Europe and North America. READ () »
Sweden sells 6.4-percent stake in Nordea
The Swedish government announced on Wednesday that it had sold 6.4 percent of its stake in Nordic banking giant Nordea, reducing its holding to 7.0 percent. READ () »
Aid cuts would be 'devastating'
Criticism of the government's foreign aid policy is mounting as Swedish ambassadors, aid organizations and politicians slam Development Aid Minister Gunilla Carlsson's announcements that development assistance to several countries may be slashed. READ () »
Swedish forestry firm cuts 2,500 jobs
Forestry giant Stora Enso plans to let another 2,500 employees go, of whom 750 work in Sweden, citing weak markets and deflating profits. READ () »
Sweden among winners in future EU-US deal
Sweden is second in line to benefit the most from an EU free-trade deal with the US, for which negotiations were finally given the all-clear in a move welcomed by pro-business groups in Sweden. READ () »
New Telia CEO 'excited' about the job
TeliaSonera's new head Johan Dennelind believes he is the right man to restore the Swedish telecom giant's reputation after the company's Uzbek bribery scandal. READ () »
ABB board unanimous in pick of CEO
Swiss-Swedish engineering giant ABB has appointed a new CEO, who has a background in oil and gas, utilities, telecoms and automotive industries and who was a key player in the acquisition of Baldor. READ () »
Wine pulled because it was 'too good': supplier
Sweden's state-run liquor store monopoly has sent back 6,000 bottles of a Spanish wine because it tasted better than expected, according to a Swedish alcohol supplier. READ () »
Sweden may cut aid to Palestinian territories
Development aid minister Gunilla Carlsson has said that the Swedish government may reduce development assistance for the Palestinians since they have failed to reach a peace agreement with Israel. READ () »
- 13/06 Sweden abandons bid to lift EU snus export ban »
- 13/06 'Swedish work-visa window too narrow' »
- 12/06 Fire hits Swedish nuke plant near Gothenburg »
- 12/06 Bankruptcy hits major Swedish free school firm »
- 11/06 US judge rejects Saab bankruptcy lawsuit »
- 10/06 Wolf 'massacre' leaves over 20 sheep dead »
- 10/06 AstraZeneca snaps up US inhaler company »
- 07/06 Prosecutor seeks docs in TeliaSonera bribes case »
- 07/06 Swedish dads stay home as mothers work »
- 05/06 Sweden's Meda denies India merger rumours »
| 20/06 | Senior DevelopersCapus AS | Oslo, OSLO |
| 19/06 | Application ManagerEuropean Spallation Source ESS AB | SKÅ |
| 19/06 | C# Developer | Lund |
| 19/06 | Commercial DirectorsAviator | Stockholm |
| 19/06 | Customer Service Representative - DistrupolDistrupol | Malmo |
| 19/06 | GE Money Bank söker en senior riskanalytikerGE Money Bank | Danderyd, STHM |
| 19/06 | GLOBAL COMMODITY MANAGER (m/w) | Göteborg |
| 19/06 | IT Communication and Support OfficerEuropean Spallation Source ESS AB | SKÅ |
| 19/06 | Lighting Category DirectorSchneider Electric | Malmö, SKÅ |
| 19/06 | Management Consultant to Global Business Services Advisory Services with Shared Services and Outsourcing Advisory experience | Stockholm |
- 19/06 Hamburg to be run by at least 40 percent women »
- 18/06 German investor confidence on the up »
- 18/06 Commerzbank 'to shed 5,000 jobs' »
- 18/06 Deutsche Bahn fires staff in corruption clean-up »
- 17/06 Sun sets on Siemens solar division »
- 17/06 Motorists flush away millions in toilet tickets »
- 14/06 Germany joins EU youth unemployment fight »
- 14/06 Canny footballer shoots, scores, is banned »
- 13/06 Rat poison found at Lidl supermarkets »
- 13/06 Berlin: EU can find 'good solution' to US free trade »
- Senior Developers
- Commercial Directors
- Stream Global Services Dublin - Swedish
- Application Manager
- Customer Service Representative - Distrupol
- GE Money Bank söker en senior riskanalytiker
- IT Communication and Support Officer
- Lighting Category Director
- Senior Electrical Engineer
- Senior Manager/Manager with Finance, Risk & Regulatory experience within Banking and Capital Markets
- 13:58 Which song are you currently listening to?
- 12:36 Please help people in Czech Republic
- 12:29 An interesting article about hiring foreign-born
- 11:58 New Grad. moving to Sweden
- 11:52 Tjänstledig In Sweden
- 11:50 A funny pic about Jimmie Åkesson
- 11:26 Exchanging a old car for a new one, taxes?
- 11:24 Campervan in -30?
- 09:54 Books used and new
- 22:35 Romanian beggers everywhere in Stockholm
Create an account with Banc De Binary, the world’s most reputable binary options firm, and start cashing in today! You can start by practicing with our free $50,000 demo account.
www.bbinary.com
Expat counsellor & talk therapist offers counselling for stress, relationship issues, sexuality, culture adjustment & life coaching. Private & confidential. Stockholm or Skype. Contact me today! 08-559 22 636 or
CLICK HERE
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS
Individuals & Couples - Stockholm Beth Rogerson PhD - Clinical, Marriage & Family Therapist
Click or call 08-5580 1266 now
Your comments about this article:
The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.
Let's cut through the BS, shall we?
"Volvo Cars is looking to relocate about 50 employees from Sweden to China"
Key word here: RELOCATE. No new jobs, just moving some of their top brass that are already employed with the company to oversee the new operations.
"Volvo also plans to hire around 200 local employees with varying skill sets."
Key word here: LOCAL employees. They're hiring Chinese workers.
Translation: Volvo is setting up shop in China where they can hire cheaper labor. Don't be fooled by the title of the article, there are NO NEW JOBS for Sweden. In fact, expect many Swedish workers to be losing their jobs to the Chinese.
In Volvo case, there is only win-win solution.More and more local workers are put on the line, it's truth.
will be theirs word on what they wanted to do as I believe Geely would want more
mainland Chinese to own more beautiful reliable Volvo cars and etc.
How are you interpreting this?
"Volvo also plans to hire around 200 local employees with varying skill sets.
"There are a lot of capable Chinese engineers. But we also want to have our own people because they have competence about Volvo," said Sällström."
The way I read it is "local" meaning local to China, since that's where the project is, thus hiring Chinese. I see the comment about "our own people" being about the 50 Swedes already working for the company that they are merely relocating, who will be overlooking the new skilled Chinese employees.
As far as what Volvo and Geely do, I agree - it is their own business. He can move Volvo to the moon for all I care. I just think the article is grossly misleading and the insinuation of new jobs for Swedes is untrue.
Then the upper management is reevaluated and shifted to other departments or out the door.
Then the dreaded "consolidation" and "redundancy" jobs are eliminated with the final coup de grâce being that manufacturing and the home office are being moved for cost savings and your plant and/or office is being shut down...permanently.
The only thing that changes is the names of the companies.
Transfer that technology and know-how!
Volvo is expanding and making the sensible move to have a local plant in the world's biggest car market. Historically, Volvo would also have been wise to have had a USA plant to avoid the previous and recent unfavourable currency exachange between the Kroner and the Dollar. (Halifax plant should have been kept?). Just like other OEMs with local plants in the USA and China, Volvo is now expanding and this is something THEY have wanted and need to do for some time. Of course there will be localled employed people as well as people from Volvo HQ overseeing things. Just like Ghent and Bron wher ethe plant workers were local and management included representation from Sweden. Volvo's will continue to be designed and engineered in Sweden. Geely is wise and knows Volvo's need to be Swedish engineered and designed. As Peter Horbury says, Volvo isnt just a look or an image, its a way of doing things. The China plant will be added to the lineup of Torslanda, Ghent and Uddevalla and the new plant will only cater for the Chinese and local market NB where Volvo currently doesnt sell much! EU plants for the EU and USA. Eventually you might see car exported from China and most likely the smallest and cheapest cars like the P20 just like many other OEMS make their cheapest cars in Eastern Europe or India because profits on small cars are low.
To ensure the new Volvo China plant matches Volvo's standards elsewhere and due to Volvo's autonomy, Volvo staff from Sweden will be running and overseeing this new venture (just like when Ghent and Born were established).
It might take a few years, but I think it's a certainty that the entire Volvo operation will eventually be in China. Regardless of what top Volvo management says. Just in case anyone doesn't know it, dishonesty is still relevant in big busness.
And as a non-Swede and non-Chinese I definitely think it is not fair for the Swedes to the other western countries to call China foul. When the Japanese economy grew they closed their economy to outside competition but exported to every other economy. The south Koreans did the same. The Swedish if you didn't realize, did the same and still continue to do the same (ever notice why every road or bridge contract goes to Skanska?). The Chinese and Indians don't see the point and it is not like they are going to loose anything to share their growth, they are simply too big and it works in their favor not to reinvent the wheel.
I often don't understand the idea of cheap labor, it is a world of free market. If someone pays you more to work less and have longer vacations than someone from the other side of the world then it simply means you are consuming an unfair share of the world's resources.
I hope the Chinese will make improvements and be able to revive the brand!