Volvo S60 Long Wheelbase (S60L) goes in to production

Wed, 06 Nov 2013

Volvo certainly seems to be on the up at the moment, with new cars like the new V40 challenging established premium compacts and a complete new engine range in the offing. That is, to a great degree, down to the ownership of Volvo by China’s Geely after a period of stagnation under Ford, and now the Chinese ownership is starting to make strides in China.

Chinese sales for Volvo are growing, and that’s going to be helped by a new long wheelbase version of the S60, built for the Chinese market in China and due to debut at the Guangzhou Motor Show later this month.

Chinese sales rose 40 per cent in 2012 – with the XC60 and S60 driving those sales – and the new S60L will, with China’s predilection for cars with lots of room in the back, increase those sales further as Volvo strives for a target of 800k annual sales.

Lars Danielson, Volvo’s man in China, said:

We are truly firing on all cylinders in China.

The official start of series production in Chengdu is only the latest of many milestones we have achieved in recent years. Helped by our strong product portfolio, our highly competent organization in China is determined to book many more successes in the future and the outlook for Volvo Cars in China is indeed very bright.

So far, Volvo hasn’t exported any cars from China to the West, but the arrival of the S60L could change that.

And be a preview of what’s to come.

By Cars UK