As a consequence Volvo cars fitted with prior versions of the product cannot simply install a software upgrade.
However, few drivers of the Goteborg-based carmaker would realize that since 2010, Volvo Cars has been owned by Geely Holding Group.
Rumours abound that Fisker could soon be sold, possibly to the Chinese carmaker Dongfeng Motor or to Zhejiang Geely, which owns Sweden's Volvo Cars.
Also at the auto show, global automakers including Mercedes Benz and Nissan and local brands such as Geely Holding Group, which owns Sweden's Volvo Cars, and Great Wall Motors Co. showed new SUVs or SUV concept vehicles.
But what Google has done, through intense lobbying and publicity, is pave the way beautifully for BMW, Mercedes and Volvo to launch autonomous cars in 2014.
FORBES: Why Google Will Lose in Driverless Cars (and Who Will Win)
In Barcelona a few days ago, Volvo demonstrated a platoon of autonomous cars on a motorway.
Four companies -- Audi, Mercedes, BMW and Volvo -- will have automated cars in the market in the next 12 months noted The New York Times' technology writer John Markoff.
The Volvo S60 sedan was one of two cars to get a "good" rating.
But when it comes to cars like the S80, Volvo could use some advice--or at least a good prodding--from Ford's other luxury divisions.
The head of development for the program is convinced that driver-less cars are the future and that Volvo will be the first one there.
In 2001 Ford tried to get out of trouble by borrowing the underpinnings of cars built by its Mazda and Volvo subsidiaries and reengineering them.
Instead, Volvo's sales will probably rise more slowly to 650, 000 cars per year by then, from about 400, 000 currently, IHS Automotive forecasts.
Volvo Car Corporation and Siemens intend to jointly advance the technical development of electric cars through extensive strategic cooperation.
ENGADGET: Volvo and Siemens team up to build better electric engines
Saab and Volvo may receive government-guaranteed loans, ostensibly to improve the efficiency of their cars.
"Cooperation with Volvo is an important milestone in the development of top-quality components and systems for electric cars subsequently intended for series production, " says Siegfried Russwurm, Siemens Board member and CEO of the Siemens Industry Sector.
ENGADGET: Volvo and Siemens team up to build better electric engines
When they launched in 1981, the cars had a 130-horsepower 2.8-liter V6 Peugeot- Renault-Volvo rear engine built on a Lotus frame.
The analysts are not convinced that Volvo's strategy will do enough to ensure it reaches its goal of selling 800, 000 cars per year by 2020.
Details have not been fixed, but the design will probably be based on one of Mitsubishi's existing small cars, and production will probably take place at Nedcar, a Dutch plant that Mitsubishi shares with Volvo.
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