Indian Autos blog

Volvo will continue to be an independent division of Geely, headquartered in Sweden. We will directly report to Volvo in Sweden. (For India) we will continue with our own plans that have been announced earlier, which includes new products and network expansion.

Volvo Auto India Managing Director Paul de Voijs said when asked to react on the Volvo-Geely development.

Paul di Voijs poses with the new Volvo S80 diesel in Mumbai’s World Trade Center

“No I want to talk to you, No I want to talk to you” insists Paul when I ask him to gather some lunch in a plate as we sit down for a chat. He smiles like a child, but I know he’s a very hungry man. He hasn’t taken lunch, and when we start chatting its already 4:15 PM.

As I make myself comfortable, I remind myself I’m dealing with a man who is in his 25th year with Volvo brand. Paul de Voijs, Managing Director of Volvo India is working in his sixth destination and has seen a good part of America on a Harley Davidson which he rented with no previous riding experience. He is an adventure-seeking man who arrived in India knowing there was no office, table or chair for him. Paul reads the look in my eye as I start talking.

I start by telling Paul I’m not going to ask him questions on production volumes, projected sales or engine capacity. Instead I would ask him about the future, a place where I want to be in today to see Volvo in India. Right now Volvo sells just two models – the S80 sedan and the XC90 SUV. I hence don’t consider Mercedes Benz, BMW or Audi to be its competitors in any of my questions.

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