The new XC90 contributed 6,719 units to Volvo Cars' first half global sales volume.

Shen said: "Volvo Cars has the largest portion of Chinese engineers, and our team has made a breakthrough among the industry's Chinese R&D centers. Our Chinese engineers are working in the core section of car development, other than subtle parts for localizing a model."

Mertens said:"We are making future models better than the current ones, and I have the confidence to release a mind-blowing car and surprise everyone in the future."

Volvo Cars' Asia-Pacific headquarters broke ground adjacent to the new R&D center, after the company decided to upgrade the China Region to the Asia-Pacific Region earlier this year.

Volvo Cars' interim report shows its sales in China totaled 38,292 units in the first half of 2015, similar to the 38,751 units sold in the same period last year, while global sales grew 1.4 percent year-on-year to 232,284 units.