Volvo owners in China have raised concerns over the authenticity of the Bowers & Wilkins audio systems installed in their vehicles, following reports of discrepancies in branding and construction.
The issue came to light when a Volvo S60 owner discovered a peculiar detail in the Tweeter-on-Top centre speaker of his vehicle. Instead of the renowned “Bowers & Wilkins” logo, the speaker was labelled as “Bovvers & VVilkins,” with two “V” characters replacing the letter “W” in both words. The owner, suspicious of the odd spelling, confronted the dealership, which dismissed the issue, claiming there was no typographical error. Images of the mislabelled speaker surfaced in Chinese media outlets further fueling concerns.
According to reports, the S60 owner had taken his vehicle to the dealership to have its original Bowers & Wilkins sound system replaced, though the reason for the replacement was not specified. The Bowers & Wilkins premium audio package is an exclusive option in certain Volvo models, including the top-tier S60 Ultra in the U.S., where it is priced at $3,200 (RM14,095).
The controversy did not end with the questionable speakers. The same owner also claimed that the replacement crystal gear shifter lacked its usual backlighting, raising further doubts about the authenticity of the installed components. Despite voicing these concerns, the dealership offered no replacement or remedy.
“The sales staff did not speak English and could not tell the difference between ‘W’ and ‘VV,’” the owner told South Korea’s JoongAng Ilbo. “All I was told was that the copy speakers were good.”
The issue appears to extend beyond a single case, as other Volvo owners in China have reported similar findings. However, it remains unclear whether these vehicles were purchased from the same dealership or multiple locations.
In response to the growing concerns, Volvo China issued a statement emphasising its commitment to customer trust and product integrity. The company acknowledged reports of “irregular behaviour in the new car sales process” and assured that it was taking the matter seriously.
“Volvo Cars always stands with its customers and will never tolerate any behaviour that harms the interests of users,” the automaker stated. It also reiterated that Volvo employs a “strict full-link traceability management system for original accessories” and has launched a “special investigation” into the allegations.
As the situation unfolds, Volvo customers in China are left waiting for further clarification on whether counterfeit components have made their way into official dealerships and what steps the company will take to address the issue.
