
Volvo Construction Equipment Refocuses Presence in China
Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) has signed a contract to sell its ownership in China-based SDLG (Shandong Lingong Construction Machinery Co) to a fund predominantly owned by the Lingong Group (LGG) for SEK 8 billion. The transaction is expected to have a positive effect of SEK 1 billion on operating income at the time of closing, subject to currency fluctuations. Going forward, Volvo CE will be targeting focused customer segments in China and enhance its utilisation of the Chinese supplier eco system.
Volvo CE will:
- Sell its entire stake of 70 per cent of the shares in SDLG to a fund predominantly owned by the SDLG minority owner LGG
- Focus on offering Volvo branded premium products and services to focused customer segments in China
- Utilise its system in China as a production and development centre serving both the domestic and export markets?
- In 2006, Volvo CE acquired a majority stake in SDLG, with LGG as a minority shareholder. The strategic investment gave Volvo CE access to the important domestic Chinese construction equipment market. The SDLG collaboration has been successful, but for strategic reasons Volvo and LGG now believe it would be mutually beneficial to pursue independent business strategies. Therefore, the parties have agreed that a fund predominantly owned by LGG will take ownership of Volvo’s SDLG shares. In 2024, the SDLG revenue contribution was approximately 2% of Volvo Group turnover with an insignificant impact on the Volvo Group’s operating income.
The transaction is currently estimated to have a positive effect on the segment Construction Equipment’s operating income of SEK 1 billion at the time of closing, subject to fluctuations in currency exchange rates up to the time of closing. Closing is expected to occur in the second half of 2025, subject to regulatory approvals and other conditions. The effect will be excluded from adjusted operating income. The transaction is also expected to have a negative tax impact of SEK 1.6 billion, subject to currency fluctuations.