Volvo adding 200 workers in preparation for higher demand

(December 30, 2010) Expecting higher demand in 2011, Volvo will hire 200 workers in Sweden through March, a spokesman told Bloomberg News. Volvo was acquired from Ford in August by China’s Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co.

Volvo will need to boost the workforce at the plant in Gothenburg, where the company is based, to about 3,400 as it plans to expand production there to 52 cars per hour from 48, spokesman Per-Ake Froberg said.

“We want to be prepared as we expect higher demand next year,” Froberg said by telephone today.

Volvo aims to finish this year with sales of about 380,000 cars, Froberg said. CEO Stefan Jacoby wants to boost sales to 800,000 cars in 10 years.