Volvo Sold Vehicles in China Featuring Fake ‘Bovvers & VVilkins’ Speakers

      Bowers & Wilkins is recognized for its high-quality and precisely designed audio systems. The British brand can be found in luxury vehicles from manufacturers such as BMW, Aston Martin, McLaren, and, indeed, Volvo. However, recent reports from China indicate that Volvo owners are getting audio equipment that may not be authentic.

      According to Ars Technica, a Volvo S60 owner confronted his dealership after discovering that the vehicle’s Tweeter-on-Top center speaker was labeled “Bovvers & VVilkins,” featuring two Vs instead of the proper W in both Bowers and Wilkins. A related image is available on the Chinese-language publication The Liberty Times, while a close-up of the mismatched “VV” can be seen on Sohu.

      The owner of the Volvo sedan had taken the car in to have its original Bowers & Wilkins sound system replaced, though no reason for the replacement was provided. In the United States, the premium Bowers & Wilkins audio system is a $3,200 option available only for the top-tier S60 Ultra.

      This was not the sole concern. The S60 owner also expressed dissatisfaction with the crystal gear shifter, claiming it wasn't genuine because the transmission knob lacked the typical backlighting.

      Unfortunately, the dealership representative did not speak English but conveyed that there was no typographical error regarding the Bowers & Wilkins branding. The complaining S60 owner received no offer for a replacement (of the replacement) or any solution.

      “The sales staff did not speak English and could not distinguish between ‘W’ and ‘VV,’” the owner stated, as reported by the Japanese site JoongAng Ilbo. “All I was told was that the copy speakers were good.”

      This incident isn’t an isolated case. Other Volvo owners in the Chinese market are encountering similar issues. The specific dealership involved was not identified, and it's unclear if the other affected owners bought their vehicles from the same location or different ones. Nonetheless, the mounting concerns prompted corporate to issue a statement.

      “Volvo Cars values the ‘irregular behavior in the new car sales process’ reported by some customers recently,” Volvo China stated. “Volvo Cars consistently stands by its customers and will never accept any conduct that undermines user interests.”

      Volvo also mentioned a “strict full-link traceability management system for original accessories” in its statement. The automaker further emphasized its commitment to “openness and transparency,” announcing that it had initiated a “special investigation” into the issue. Or should that be nnatter?