Volvo Car Group and CATARC of China announce strategic partnership

September 3, 2013: Volvo Car Group (Volvo Cars) and the China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC) have announced a new strategic partnership. The parties have agreed on joint research and discussions on enhancing the exchange of knowledge about safety and environmental technologies, as well as the development of relevant automotive industry regulations.

CATARC is a government body that was established in 1986 at the behest of China’s Central Government to further research into both the Chinese and global automotive industry. CATARC is directly supported by the Chinese government and is focused on offering technical support, developing automotive standardization and the formation of regulation within the automotive industry. The institute also offers substantial product certification testing, information services, and quality system certification for the Chinese automotive industry.

The agreement on the partnership was signed in the city of Tianjin, China by Lars Danielson, senior vice-president, Volvo Car China Operations and Zhang Jianwei, Vice Director at CATARC.

Under the agreement, Volvo Cars and CATARC will work together and share know-how in three key areas: safety, environment, and well-being (cabin air quality solutions), thereby taking into account the environmental situation, traffic conditions and consumer demands in China.

In the cooperation, Volvo Cars will share its global experience and knowledge with CATARC to promote better understanding of new possibilities in automotive safety, new energy solutions and interior air quality. Both parties will co-host seminars to discuss common goals and a technology roadmap with regards to new solutions, standards, regulations and policy development in the industry.

“Volvo Cars has achieved considerable growth in China so far this year and we are firmly establishing our industrial footprint in the country,” says Lars Danielson. “This new strategic partnership will help Volvo Cars to further cement its leading role in improving safety in the automotive industry, and further strengthens our long-term commitment to China as our second home market.”

“With its long heritage, Volvo Cars is an iconic brand recognised for its core values of safety, environment and care for people,” says Zhang Jianwei. “At the same time, as a leading research institute in China, CATARC has also been focused on the development of safer and more environmentally friendly vehicles. We hope to realize mutual benefit through this cooperation."