Volvo Owners Discover Imitation 'Bowers & Wilkins' Speakers in Chinese Vehicles | Carscoops

      Chinese customers have reported issues such as poorly designed crystal gearshifts and counterfeit speakers.

      7 hours ago

      by Thanos Pappas

      Volvo customers in China claim that counterfeit products were installed in their vehicles.

      These include fake speakers labeled with "Bowers & VVilkins" or "Bovvers & Wilkins."

      Volvo has publicly apologized on social media and pledged to investigate the situation.

      When buying a car from a luxury automaker, customers expect high quality and genuine components, which is part of the price they pay. Thus, it was surprising for some Volvo customers in China to find that their cars were reportedly equipped with counterfeit speakers.

      The issue was initially raised by a Volvo S60 owner who received the speakers as a promotional gift from a Volvo dealer in China. Upon comparing their sedan with other S60 models, the owner noticed some oddities in the interior.

      As reported by the Chinese media outlet Sohu, the speakers had the label “Bowers & VVilkins,” featuring two “V”s instead of a “W,” suggesting that the car was not equipped with the authentic 15-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system. Moreover, the crystal gearshift lever lacked the illuminated feature typical in higher-end Volvo models.

      When the owner brought the issue to the dealership's attention, the situation became more complicated. The salesperson reportedly did not speak English and was unable to differentiate between “VV” and “W,” resulting in the dealer refusing to replace the speakers and asserting that the counterfeit versions still produced high-quality sound.

      A Widespread Issue?

      After the dissatisfied customer shared their experience on social media, it quickly became apparent that this was not an isolated case.

      Other Volvo owners in China reported finding speakers labeled “Bowers & VVilkins” or even “Bovvers & Wilkins” in their vehicles, raising questions about whether the counterfeit items were deliberately installed. Currently, it remains unclear which Volvo models are affected and whether all were sold by the same dealership.

      Volvo’s Response and Damage Control

      In response to the backlash on social media, Volvo's Chinese division released a statement on Weibo on February 12:

      “Volvo Cars takes the 'irregular behavior in the new car sales process' reported by some customers recently very seriously. We sincerely apologize for the trouble and inconvenience this incident has caused to our customers. Volvo Cars stands with its customers and will not tolerate any actions that compromise user interests.

      “Following the incident, Volvo Cars promptly initiated a special investigation. We are committed to full transparency in establishing the cause of the incident and will handle it according to the law to ensure our customers' rights and interests are protected.”

      “Volvo Cars follows a stringent full-link traceability management system for original accessories. Every original accessory meets global quality standards, ensuring a safe and reliable car experience for customers. We are focused on customer satisfaction and dedicated to providing safe and reliable products and services. In the future, we will enhance supervision and management of authorized dealers, fully standardize sales and service processes, and effectively safeguard the rights and interests of all customers.

      We sincerely appreciate the support and trust from all segments of society.”

      Local reports indicate that this incident has hurt the Swedish automaker's reputation in China, where the brand has already been experiencing declining sales in recent years. Despite 2024 being a record year globally for Volvo, with 763,389 units sold, sales in China dropped to 156,000 units, an 8.2% decrease compared to 2023.

      As Volvo seeks to manage the consequences of this counterfeit scandal, the incident brings to light serious concerns regarding oversight and accountability within its supply chain. In a time when brand loyalty is increasingly tenuous, even luxury automakers cannot afford to let such failures erode consumer trust.