Volvo says it is seeking a strategic partner to help with the development of its next-generation small cars. The Geely-owned automaker currently uses Ford technology for its smallest offering, the C30 hatchback.
“We are open for partners,” Volvo CEO Stefan Jacoby told the Financial Times. “We are open for collaboration in a win-win situation for sharing platforms, for sharing engines, and for a general higher scale of economics.”
Jacoby says Volvo has a few potential partners in mind, but has yet to hold any formal talks.
Although Volvo currently uses platforms and components from Ford, that supply line will eventually be broken. Included in Ford’s 2010 sale of Volvo to Geely was a clause for only short-term parts sharing.
Volvo sold about 450,000 vehicles last year, but hopes to boost that figure to 800,000 units by the end of the decade. Small cars will undoubtedly be a big part of that sales goal, so finding the right small car partner will be imperative to Volvo’s future success.
