Volvo Group aims to employ at least 250 engineers from all over the globe in order to improve the efforts of the company in terms of research and technology development.

With an objective of improving research activities, Volvo started out a recruitment campaign that will assist it in hiring reliable engineers.

“This is just the beginning of a recruitment period that will last several years, which is attributable to our extensive investments - mainly within environmentally related research and technology development,” says Volvo Vehicle Research and Development Senior Vice President Anders Ydergård.

The recruitment group created by Volvo has already started enlisting 75 fresh graduates in France and Sweden. The fields of expertise of these new engineers are industrial design, electronics, and mechanics. Moreover, 175 experienced engineers from India, France, United States and Sweden will be employed.

“Volvo 3P is a global organization working with cutting-edge technology and innovative solutions for the Volvo Group’s truck business. Today, our global product development employs 2,600 engineers and our extensive investments – mainly within environmentally related research and technology development – create the need for this global recruitment campaign,” Ydergård said.

“It is crucial that we ensure our long-term competence with a high proportion of developers with a university degree. Through employing newly graduated engineers, we secure the latest in expertise in our key areas as well as increase the number of potential future leaders,” explained Ydergård.

Jorma Halonen, the deputy chief director of the Swedish auto maker Volvo Group, will soon give up his post as his April 2008 retirement draws near.

Halonen, who had been assigned to lead the development of the automotive company in Asia, had for a long while pondered on his responsibility as Volvo’s chief executive. “I have been considering my situation for some time and came to the conclusion that it is about time to slow my work pace,” Halonen expressed in a news report. “The past few years have been very intensive, involving many trips and time lags, which take their toll physically.”

Volvo Group Chief Executive Leif Johansson pointed out that Halonen, together with his team members, had been very effective in implementing negotiations with Nissan Diesel in Japan earlier this year. Halonen was also very helpful in settling matters regarding a joint venture deal Volvo recently entered with Indian auto maker Eicher Motors.

The scope of Volvo Group does not cover vehicles that were manufactured by Ford Motor Company.

Volvo Group is seeking for a pressing implementation of directives that will administer the use of onboard automobile breathalysers.

According to the automotive company, the need for guidelines is urgent because the quality and precision of these products are very much varied. It may be accurate at some point, but there is no guarantee that all breathalysers work to the optimum all the time.

There is much need for accurate breathalysers in order to keep everyone onboard safe from the risks of drunk driving. “It is vital that these products are accurate and that people do not buy sub-standard ones, and ours are extremely precise,” said Volvo Director of Public Affairs Lennart Pilskog.

In addition, Volvo offers another gadget called Alcolock. It is an expensive electronic device that can be placed in the ignition of the vehicle. It is designed to prevent a driver from starting the vehicle if he has taken in greater amount of alcohol than the permissible limit for driving.

Alcolocks are said to be installed in over 30 percent of newly-manufactured Volvo trucks in Sweden. Volvo expects other markets to accept the new vehicle accessories with the same interest.