Monday 22nd September 2003

Pininfarina JV with Volvo

Two companies form a third to knock out another Volvo convertible

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Pininfarina and Volvo have signed an agreement with the aim to develop and manufacture Volvo's next generation convertible.

A new company will be formed in the joint venture and the base will be in Uddevalla, Sweden, where the current Volvo convertible has been built since 1997. This new company, which will be called "Pininfarina Sverige AB," will be responsible for all operations at the Uddevalla plant, including project management, process engineering, prototyping and testing services.

Pininfarina will be the majority owner with 60 percent and Volvo Car Corporation will hold the remaining 40 percent. The top management structure, which has not yet been decided, will be a combination of Pininfarina and Volvo executives.

This weekend I formed a car company with my mate Sven...

[wild]

And it is based on an Elise chassis.

Well, c'mon, it could be.

[hedgerley]

Perhaps you are reading to much into the Pininfarina Enjoy which was also announced recently. That is based on the Elise chassis and was sorted by Gavin Kershaw et al at Hethel last month. They say if they do produce it only 100 will be built. I would expect Volvo are looking for a few more than that.

Stranger things have happened of course. Lotus built a Vauxhall after all.......

[wild]

Just meant as a joke.

Didn't even hear that a potential 100 Enjoys would be built.

Excellent.