Volvo cars is seeking a partner for the development of small cars according to the City Am this morning.
The Swedish car maker, with ambitions to make cuts in emissions across its range, could find that smaller cars are key to both environmental and growth targets.
The firm’s current smallest model , the C30 is based on a platform developed with company’s former owner Ford. Since being sold to Chinese firm Geely in 2010, Volvo has been seeking new partnerships to help develop economies of scale for its newly independent business.
The car maker is already working in partnership with Siemens in the development of electrified models to help produce a cleaner range, while retaining the firm’s key values of safety and quality. The latest model to launch under this strategy will be the new V60 Plug-in Hybrid which will arrive in the UK later this year. The rechargeable diesel sportswagon will be the first of its kind and is expected to drive fleet sales for the brand.
Chief executive Stefan Jacoby is currently aiming to boost Volvo’s global sales from a current level of around 450,000 a year to 800,000 by 2020.
The Swedish firm is now set to reveal a new compact car called the V40 at the forthcoming Geneva Motor Show in March. It will replace the S40 and V50 models but production details for the new model have yet to be released. In the meantime, the firm hopes to attract partners for further development of smaller cars.
