Volvo will shift production of the V60 model line to its factory Ghent, Belgium, from Sweden starting in early 2017. The move will free up capacity at Volvo’s main plant in Torslanda, near Gothenburg, for new additions such as the S90 and V90 as well as the strong-selling XC90 flagship SUV.
“Management in Sweden asked for a solution for the V60, and we put our hand up”, says Volvo Car Ghent spokesman Mark De Mey. The V60 family was Volvo’s No. 4-selling model line in 2015 with a global volume of 61,341, according to company sales figures (see chart, below).
Volvo currently produces the V40, V40 Cross Country, XC60 and S60 in Ghent. The V60 shares its underpinnings with the S60 and XC60, which is why it is possible to add the station wagon as well as variants such as the V60 Cross County and the D6 plug-in hybrid to Ghent’s production schedule.
Rather than relocating the V60’s bodyshop tools, Volvo chose to further leverage its existing ferry line between Ghent and Gothenburg. “Body panels will still be made in Sweden. They will be shipped to Ghent, where final assembly of the V60 will take place,” De Mey said.
He is also pleased that the move will give Ghent workers their first chance to produce a plug-in hybrid. “It’s a good opportunity for us to gain experience in the production of this type of vehicle,” De Mey said. “We will also be handling the storage of the batteries.”