[pattyweb]

http://www.autonews.com/apps/p...fsect=

 

[Nato740]

Re: Volvo exec: Look outside for parts (pattyweb)

Some of this makes very good sence. Unless you take it too far. And I am sure the "Ford is our mothership and rules with an iron and messing with us fist", will take this as yet again a sign. That ford is going chessey and making VOLVO outsource parts from its parts bins. I see no relationship YET that tells us that VOLVO is going the way of SAAB. I do disagree thou that a VERY short life cycle is better then the normal VOLVO one now. Maybe a few years less but nothing major. That is part of the charm of VOLVO'S. Build it right and well, no need to change much in a short time. If it works and works well and lasts and it is fixable for a period then why mess with it. Planned failure did not work and does not work for FORD And GM, why would VOLVO go there just as FORD and GM are seeing the light. DC saw it more or less in given terms a few years ago. Thou My Dodge was not there yet either. But it was getting there. Just not worth keeping it and pay for it while they did. Rather spend the $$ and keep a 91 744 with 148,500 on it and 96 965 with 127,464 on it. And keeping them on the road well. Then the same $$$ and keeping a 2002 Dodge with 46,823 on the road just status quo. After the 3/36 ran out the 7/70 was very much useless with the $$$ payments. Not to mention the truck was if you listen to the dealers worthless as trade in. http://********************/smile/emthup.gif

Modified by Nato740 at 1:33 PM 2-6-2006

 

[VolvoMax]

Re: Volvo exec: Look outside for parts (Nato740)

Volvo already gets alot of its parts from outside suppliers.
But there is a "not invented here" mindset on large components.
Things like On Star or Bluetooth, or Sat radio have been stalled because Volvo chose to try and do it themselves.

This is not an issue of planned failure, but rather keeping your product fresh.
It is a plain fact that todays buyer likes to have something new to look at.
Buyers will pay more for a new or fresh product than they will pay for one that is old and stale.
to use the example of the S80. It is still a good car. It is just stale. All the competition has new products that people will pay more for.

 

[240nut]

Re: Volvo exec: Look outside for parts (pattyweb)

Nothing wrong or unusual or even different with that practice. They have used Bosch electrical systems for years, and now use Ford air conditioner compressors (thank goodness!)

 

[TFS]

Re: Volvo exec: Look outside for parts (240nut)

Quote, originally posted by 240nut »

Nothing wrong or unusual or even different with that practice. They have used Bosch electrical systems for years, and now use Ford air conditioner compressors (thank goodness!)

I would agree. Also, why not have your (Volvo's) high paid engineers working on the drivetrain, safety equipment and suspension geometry, leave the simple stuff for someone else and test it for quality once it gets in house.

I'm not a fan of major outsourcing but it's not always a bad thing to concentrate on the things you are good at and leave the easy stuff to someone else, or better yet, a company that specializes in it already.

 

[Nato740]

Re: Volvo exec: Look outside for parts (VolvoMax)

I agree fresh. BUT that has NEVER been the case. It was ALWAYS stale from the start in the big three as I stated. And just bad (planned junk) engineering mostly form there. TILL recently when like I said, they got the clue and idea. http://********************/smile/emthup.gif