Red Volvo Week #5

Dutch Volvo, made in The Netherlands, have also been delivered in the amazing red color.

1976 - Red Volvo 343

1988 - Red Volvo 440

1986 - Red Volvo 480

2002 - Red Volvo V40

After building a series of compact cars, Dutch car manufactory DAF sought a partner to bring its new larger model, codenamed P900 and intended to become the DAF 77, to market in 1970. Several manufacturers were approached, including Audi, BMW, and Volvo. Volvo was not originally interested due to the cost, but they were later persuaded by DAF’s access to Renault engines. This helped Volvo expand its model line-up without the large expenditures associated with developing a new model. Building cars in the Netherlands also helped the Swedish Volvo to access the markets of the EEC, of which Sweden was then not yet a member.
Volvo purchased a one-third share in DAF in 1973, increasing to a three-quarters stake in 1975.

When financial difficulties threatened to close the Born factory it down in the early 1990s the Dutch government stepped in to ensure its survival. A joint venture between the Dutch State, Volvo and Mitsubishi Motors began in August 1991, although it was 1996 before the name was officially changed from Volvo Car B.V. to NedCar B.V. On February 15, 1999 the Dutch government sold its shares to its two partners, which then owned 50 percent each. Later, on March 30, 2001, Volvo sold its shares to Mitsubishi.

On 9 May 2004, NedCar said farewell to Volvo. On that day the last of the Volvo V40 and S40 models came off the production line. During the farewell ceremony, the one millionth V40 was revealed in spectacular fashion and donated to Volvo Car UK. Altogether, between 1975 and 2004, more than 2.6 million different Volvo models were produced in Born. The last V40 and S40 to come off the line were donated by Volvo to the Volvo museum in Gothenburg.