Volvo S80 to start trial production in China

Shanghai. July 23 (Gasgoo.com) Volvo Cars and its Chinese partner, Changan Ford Mazda Automobile (CFMA), will start trial production of Volvo S80 in the second half of this year, with volume production starting next year as scheduled, Beijing Morning Post reported Monday.

The joint venture will build a long wheelbase version of the S80 tailored specially for the Chinese market. The car's local content is reportedly to exceed 50 percent, even higher than 40 percent requested by Chinese government.

Volvo sells three versions of imported S80 in China, the S80 V8 AWD, S80 T6 AWD and S80 2.5T. The retail price of the three versions is between 498,000 yuan ($73,008) and 895,000 yuan.

Sales of Volvo cars in China increased by 73.2 percent during 2007 to 12,460 units, of which the locally produced Volvo S40 is the bestselling Volvo vehicles in China with a total of 6,560 units sold. China is following Russia to become the second fastest growing country for Volvo cars.