Will U.S. Volvo Dealers Sell Geely Cars if the Deal Goes Through?

Volvo dealers are beginning to wonder if they’ll be able to sell Geely models if the pending sale goes through. Some dealers are receptive to the idea, while others haven’t even considered it.

In light of Saab’s situation, dealers are still wary of the pending sale. “Until this deal goes down, I’m not even thinking about selling a Geely car,” said Mike DiChristofano, vice president of Volvo of Tucson in Arizona. “It’s all pure speculation until it happens.” Ford hasn’t completely closed the deal with Geely, but expects to do so this spring.

Car dealers are known for selling just about any vehicle that can be ordered, and selling a Chinese car might be another feather in the cap of some dealerships. “I’ll try anything,” said Mark O’Steen, owner of O’Steen Volvo. “It is just another niche that we don’t cover, and hopefully they do have some potential in the United States.” Donald Latham, owner of a Volvo dealership, said he’d “be receptive” to the idea of offering Geely models at his store. However, he did say that the cars would need to be significantly less expensive so as not to steal business from his other brands.

As Chinese automakers look for ways to enter the mainstream U.S. market, Geely may be the first to do so with Volvo’s distribution. Industry experts claim that Chinese automakers would need approximately five years before they would have cars ready to meet stringent U.S. safety and emissions standards.

One question remains: with Volvo known as one of the safest brands on the road, would Geely models tarnish the brand’s reputation? Check out some crash footage of a Volvo S40 here and a Geely Otaka here to decide for yourself. The Volvo seems to utilize crumple zones well and protect the driver. The Geely, on the other hand…

Source: Automotive News