"If there is any substantive change in status, the employees will hear it from me first before they read in the press,” Odell was quoted as saying by Autonews. “Ford will tell you and I will tell you nothing substantial has changed. Ford is still talking to outside interested parties, but they have not moved forward with any of those parties.”
The Chinese manufacturer, after being rumored to have submitted an official bid to buy Volvo in the beginning of the month, have stated that they want full control of the Swedish manufacturer.
Some reports say an official bid to buy Volvo was made in the beginning of the month by Geely, resulting in the Asian company agreeing to construct a new plant in China to build Volvos locally and bring a team of Chinese engineers in Sweden to collaborate with their local counterparts.
The only tangible information is the fact that Volvo will eventually be sold. Whoever the next owner will be, Odell says it will be "someone who understands the brand. People I have spoken with have a good understanding of the brand."
Back in August, state secretary Joeran Haegglund said that a new Volvo owner will be found by the end of 2009. "Ford has a slower pace than GM and Saab and we expect a sale will be completed in the latter part of the year," he said.
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