Volvo Car Group (Volvo Cars) is owned by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (Geely Holding) of China, which acquired the company from Ford in 2010. While Geely Holding is the majority owner (approx. 78.7%), Volvo Cars operates independently and is publicly traded on the Nasdaq Stockholm stock exchange.
Volvo Cars is owned by the Chinese conglomerate Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (Geely Holding), which acquired the company in 2010, while the heavy truck division, Volvo Trucks, remains part of the Swedish Volvo Group, though Geely also holds a stake in it. Volvo Cars, headquartered in Sweden, operates independently but benefits from Geely's backing, with its shares listed publicly on Nasdaq Stockholm.
Volvo Cars is a Swedish company and the began its long history of safe and luxurious vehicles in Gothenburg, Sweden. The company was founded by Assar Gabrielsson and Gustaf Larson in 1927, and the first vehicle ever produced was the ÖV4, nicknamed Jakob.
Neither Volvo nor Audi is definitively "better"—they cater to different priorities, with Volvo often leading in safety, minimalist Scandinavian design, and family-focused comfort, while Audi shines in sporty driving dynamics, cutting-edge tech integration (like virtual cockpits), and more traditional luxury; choose Volvo for tranquility and safety, Audi for performance and tech. Your best choice depends on whether you value Volvo's calm, safe, practical elegance or Audi's agile, tech-forward sportiness.
This is higher than the general average of $891 for most cars. Over ten years, the average cost reaches $10,073. This is lower than some luxury brands, like BMW, at $1,323 per year, but higher than non-luxury brands, like Honda, at $585 per year.
Volvos depreciate significantly due to a combination of high projected maintenance costs, expensive parts, complex electronics, perceived reliability issues, lower demand compared to German rivals, and brand perception as a luxury car that becomes costly to own long-term, with issues like potential electrical glitches, air suspension failures, and costly repairs deterring used car buyers.
Neither Volvo nor Mercedes is definitively "better"; they excel in different areas, with Volvo often praised for superior standard safety, practical Scandinavian design, comfort, and value in features, while Mercedes-Benz typically leads in outright luxury, advanced tech, powerful performance, and a more traditional prestigious feel, though newer models are closing the gap. Your choice depends on priorities: Volvo for safety-focused practicality, Mercedes for premium refinement and status, but check specific models as features and performance vary.
In full-year 2025, Volvo worldwide car sales were lower, with China the top market and the XC60 the best-selling global model. 2025 (January to December): Volvo Cars' global sales contracted by 7% to 710,042 deliveries worldwide.
In July 2015, the Polestar brand was acquired by Volvo Cars, which repositioned the brand as an electric vehicle manufacturer since 2017. The racing team was then rebranded to Cyan Racing, while still maintaining close ties to Volvo.
Until 2014, Volvo Cars used some engines of its own and others from Ford. Now, however, the Volvo Engine Architecture (VEA) set of engines is found in all Volvo vehicles. This family of three- and four-cylinder engines are entirely designed by the Scandinavian company.
The automobile industry not only eyes on the domestic market, but also the overseas expansion. The government really wants to see the direction of overseas expansion. Therefore, the government helped Geely acquire Volvo, which opens a channel for the Chinese automobile industry to the world.
Even though both Volvo and BMW belong to the luxury car segment, the price tags differ radically. For example, the difference in the starting price for the new BMW X5 and Volvo XC90 models is about $5,000 to the date of publication.
Most of Volvo's new cars scored average or below-average in our reliability rankings, and the infotainment systems on many models are less intuitive than what you'll find in competitors' cars. Our testers have also found that Volvos aren't great at absorbing bumps, and have average fuel economy.
There's no single "number 1" reliable car, but Toyota (especially the Yaris, Aygo, Corolla) and Honda (Jazz, Civic) consistently rank highest for overall brand reliability and low repair costs in recent surveys, with strong contenders also being Suzuki, Lexus, and Hyundai for their robust engineering and build quality, while some newer electric models like the Kia EV3 and Ford Mustang Mach-E are scoring perfect reliability scores in recent reports, notes Auto Express, What Car?, Cinch, Direct Gap Insurance, Fleet News, Warrantywise, What Car?, and Mycarpark.
The standard recommendation is to wash your car every two weeks. However, there are some factors that may affect this frequency, such as the season, your driving patterns, and the environment. For example, you can wash your car less often if you store it in a garage or don't drive it frequently.
One of the key features that makes Volvos excel in winter weather is available all-wheel drive (AWD). Volvo's AWD system continuously monitors the vehicle's grip and automatically sends power to the wheels with the most traction.
For decades, the two brands had two different personas. BMW was known as “The Ultimate Driving Machine,” focused on refined performance. Mercedes-Benz, on the other hand, takes comfort seriously, with some of the nicest interiors on the market before you step up to ultra-luxury like Bentley and Rolls-Royce.
The Volvo XC60 prioritizes Scandinavian luxury, comfort, and safety with a calm ride, while the BMW X3 emphasizes sporty performance, sharp handling, and driver engagement, featuring a more driver-focused cabin and better standard cargo space, though the XC60 offers a more straightforward options list and powerful plug-in hybrid option. Choose the XC60 for relaxation and value, and the X3 for a dynamic driving experience, though both offer premium interiors and strong tech.
