What differentiates a Volvo from other cars is its properties. Naturally within the areas that are core values at Volvo Cars—safety, environment and quality—but even the car’s comfort, driving properties and usability have clear Volvo genes. Developing and ensuring these unique properties is an important task for the product developers. Their work is based on the expertise of the 4000 or so employees of the Product Development department in Göteborg, which has been built up over decades of car development. Volvo Cars also has access to the combined competence of Ford Motor Company and the many suppliers who actively contribute to the development of new Volvo cars.
Shared components for unique cars
Components and systems that do not directly define the perception of a car brand—such as the steering column, alternator, fuel tank and various internal structures—can be developed and used in standardised form by a number of car companies. This promotes economies of scale in the development process, which in turn means more time, money and care can be invested in components and systems that make Volvo unique. Higher efficiency also means that the development organisation can produce a broader range of car models and thus meet more customer groups’ needs and wishes.
Cross-border product development
In recent years, Volvo Cars has intensified its cooperation primarily with other European companies within Ford to initiate introduction of a new approach for shared product development. The aim is to harness specialist competence in each company and to make product development as efficient as possible. This in turn creates new opportunities for innovation and fresh approaches.
In this joint approach, Volvo has main responsibility for new car models in the same size category as the Volvo S80 and V70. Volvo, with its tradition in the field of safety, also has main responsibility for engineering work relating to the body and interior, as well as electronics. Electronics is without doubt the most dynamic area within car development and a key to success within both active safety and environmental care.