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正式签署18亿美元收购协议，吉利沃尔沃 “苦恋”终成正果。
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瑞典哥德堡沃尔沃总部，吉利汽车集团董事长李书福（前左）与美国福特汽车公司首席财务官莱维斯·布思（前右）在签约后拥抱庆贺。
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已有８２年历史的沃尔沃，被誉为“世界上最安全的汽车”。在汽车安全和节能环保方面，有许多独家研发的先进技术和专利。
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Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, China`s No 10 automaker, sealed a binding deal on Sunday to buy ailing Swedish luxury car brand Volvo from US giant Ford for $1.8 billion.
上周日，中国第十大汽车制造商浙江吉利控股集团以18亿美元的价格，从美国福特集团手中成功购得处于困境之中的瑞典高端汽车品牌——沃尔沃。
"Today represents a milestone in the history of Geely," Geely Chairman Li Shufu told a news conference, adding that Volvo will remain a separate company with its own management team based in Sweden.
吉利集团董事长李书福在记者招待会上说：“今天是吉利历史上的一座里程碑。”此外他还表示，沃尔沃位于瑞典的公司仍会独立运营，管理团队不变。
The agreement was signed between the two automakers in Goteborg, Sweden.
吉利与福特汽车在瑞典哥德堡正式签约。
The deal is China`s biggest overseas auto purchase and represents the most ambitious move by a homegrown auto brand, said analysts.
分析人士表示，此次交易是中国汽车业最大一宗海外并购案，同时也是这个中国本土汽车品牌最富雄心壮志的一次举措。
Ford has been trying to sell Volvo since late 2008 to focus its resources on managing its core Ford, Lincoln and Mercury brands. The sale deal is expected to free up cash for the No 2 US automaker.
早在2008年底，福特公司就已计划出售沃尔沃，以便整合资源更好地管理旗下的核心品牌：福特，林肯及水星。作为全美第二大汽车制造商，福特公司期待此次出售能获得更多流动资金。
Geely, an independent automaker that has struggled to raise its profile in overseas markets, has long coveted a stronger foothold in Europe.
作为独立汽车制造商，吉利集团努力尝试提升其品牌在海外市场的影响力，同时该公司也一直渴望在欧洲市场站稳脚跟。
It was chosen by Ford as the preferred bidder for its loss-making Swedish unit in October 2009.
2009年10月，福特准备出售旗下这个效益不佳的瑞典品牌，而吉利就在优先考虑的买家之列。
Li is already planning a factory in Beijing which will make 300,000 Volvo cars, or as many as are now made abroad.
李书福已计划在京设立沃尔沃工厂，产能为30万辆或与目前海外工厂产量相仿。
According to the agreement, the acquisition will offer Geely, a producer with lower-end image, access to a high-end brand and technology it needs to compete with much bigger rivals in China.
根据协议，此次并购让低端汽车生产商吉利掌握了一个高端品牌的同时也拥有与国内其他强劲对手抗衡的技术。
"The acquisition is a milestone in China`s automobile industry, especially when Chinese automakers are considering overseas expansion," said Jia Xinguang, an independent auto analyst.
“此次并购是中国汽车产业的一个里程碑，尤其在国内汽车厂商纷纷考虑拓展海外市场的当下。”汽车分析人士贾新光表示。
"Li Shufu has a very strategic target that can be boosted by Volvo`s green technologies."
“李书福的战略意图就是拿到沃尔沃的环保技术。”
Auto analyst Zhong Shi said he believed that "the deal is worth it to get the world`s leading technologies for a reasonable price. The takeover may help Geely take a step forward in competing with other homegrown brands."
汽车分析家钟师表示，他相信“用一个合理价格购得世界领先技术，这是一笔划算的买卖。此次收购能够帮助吉利在技术上领先于国内其他自主品牌。”
As the Chinese company has promised to retain Volvo`s brand and operations in Sweden after the transaction, including the headquarters, production facility and research center, Zhong said "the takeover will not have any impact on Volvo`s future development and high-end brand image."
吉利方面已承诺在重组后，继续保留沃尔沃商标及其在瑞典的运营模式，包括总部，生产设施以及研发机构。钟师说：“此次并购将不会影响沃尔沃今后的发展及其高端品牌的形象。”
Although Geely said earlier that it has enough financial resources - from Chinese and overseas investors, and financial institutions - to execute the deal, analysts worry about its ability.
尽管吉利集团早前曾表示，依托国内外的投资商以及金融机构，吉利有足够财力来促成这笔交易。但分析人士仍对吉利的实力表示担忧。
"It will face huge financial pressure to operate Volvo in the long run," said Zhong.
钟师说：“从沃尔沃长期运营的角度来看，吉利将面对巨大的财务压力。” |
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