Volvo Buses
INDIA
The India journey of Volvo Buses saw various key milestones being crossed in the recent months. Volvo has now reached 15 cities that operate Volvo City Buses. With this, Volvo has the widest spread of low-entry city bus operations in the country. In the past weeks, Volvo crossed the mark of 25000 drivers being trained. Volvo buses on-road also crossed the mark of 5000 buses in India, not including Volvo buses operating in neighboring markets.
The milestones are representative of the change that the bus industry has undertaken towards bus modernisation and promoting public transport in cities. Volvo has a leading share in its segments. From introducing new concepts, to solutions & technologies, at each stage Volvo has changed the way people perceive bus travel.
In the last 2 years Volvo increased its local capabilities by expanding its industrial establishment by almost 100%. These capabilities also include enhanced product development activities. Volvo Buses was the first player to begin delivery of city buses under the Urban Bus Specifications II. The New Volvo 8400 City bus designed for these requirements was developed locally in collaboration with global team.
VRV Sriprasad, Managing Director, Volvo Buses India said, “The crossing of these milestones is reflective of the change that we have brought into the Indian bus market. At Volvo, it is our objective to popularise public transport and make it the preferred mode. We are proud that we have planted the seeds of this agenda in 15 cities already and are confident that this base will grow in the coming months and years to follow.”
“The next phase in the bus industry will be marked by building smarter cities, increased urbanization, alternative technologies and a resulting higher demand for better quality of mobility. Volvo is prepared and ready to partner with all stakeholders to take the country forward on this road.”
A large number of cities already operating Volvo City Buses have chosen to augment their fleets with Volvo City Buses, while new cities are adopting these buses for the first time. In 2014 we see more and more smaller cities – such as Solapur and Puducherry adopting the Volvo Concept.
As a result the Volvo City Bus experience is spreading akin to the way Volvo Coaches connect cities across all key highways in India – now, almost 75 cities.
Drivers at the core of Volvo Buses
Volvo has always believed that drivers are the key for a comfortable & safe journey that people desire and demand. Since its inception, Volvo has been conducting training programmes for drivers of its customers as well as from the open market. The objective is to make good drivers even better, and enhance the bus travel experience for people. Till date, Volvo has trained 25,000 drivers and this continues with the intention of improving the quality of driving & drivers on Indian roads.
Building capabilities for the next steps
Volvo Buses has increased its presence with enhancing the local capabilities. The company has developed local product development competencies to cater to regional needs of new product development. At present, Volvo exports to the SAARC region as well as to South Africa.
Gearing up for the future, the company has completed building capabilities with a product portfolio catering to a wide segment range, expanded industrial systems and volumes, new warehouse, prototype shop and an integrated chassis line.
September 17, 2014
For further information, please contact...
Sridhar Chari, sridhar.chari@volvo.com
Meetali Saxena, +91 96202 21540, meetali.saxena@bm.com