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.
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Volvo Cars entered a contract with global consultancy firm Cybercom concerning the thorough evaluation of the interoperability of Bluetooth devices installed in Volvo vehicles.

The automotive company has entrusted Cybercom with the obligation of maintaining the high standards for the technologically advanced devices inside the automobiles it manufactures. The main task of Cybercom is to make certain that Bluetooth devices function properly, whether the cell phone units of passengers are new or not. This effort of Volvo is to be carried out internationally. The project will be put into operation in Asia, Europe, and the United States.

The Volvo Cars model agenda includes the Bluetooth hands-free system that links itself to cell phones, enabling passengers to use the speakers for safer phone, conversations integrated displayer, and steering wheel buttons and of the Volvo automobile.

“The Bluetooth communication interface is a well-known standard with high penetration primarily derived from mobile phone manufacturers and although Bluetooth is a standard, it varies when it comes to various manufacturers’ solutions and models,” said Cybercom Automotive Aolutions Director Hakan Fernstrom.

“We’ve seen and will continue to see a trend that increasingly involves various two-way communication interfaces to cars using consumer electronics units such as in telephony, navigation, audio and video solutions,” said Cybercom Group President and CEO Patrik Boman.

Source: automotive-business-review.com
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