The Swedish bus maker has reached 15 cities across the country, and has crossed the 5,000 figure mark of on-road buses in India.
Volvo has embarked on a success ride in the recent months in India. The Swedish bus maker has expanded its wings across 15 cities that operate Volvo City Buses. With this, Volvo has the widest spread of low-entry city bus operations in the country. The Swedish bus maker also has 5,000 buses plying on-road in India.
Commenting on this achievement, 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 urbanisation, 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,” he further added.
In the last two years Volvo increased its local capabilities by expanding its industrial establishment by almost 100 per cent. 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.
Since its inception, Volvo has also been conducting training programmes for drivers of its customers as well as from the open market. The objective is to 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 on Indian roads.
Volvo sees new growth opportunities
Bus maker Volvo sees strong, new growth opportunities emerging from the changing aspiration levels of people in smaller cities and the Centre’s emphasis on building smart cities.
The demand for its buses, Volvo Buses India Managing Director V. R. V. Sriprasad said, was no longer restricted to major cities as government transport undertakings in smaller cities were also placing orders. Solapur and Puducherry have taken delivery of Volvo buses this year and many other smaller cities have evinced interest.
Along with senior executives of the company, he was briefing presspersons visiting the Volvo plant in Hoskote, near here, on Wednesday. People increasingly, they said, were not averse to spending more for improved comforts and getting value for money.
For the transport corporations, Volvo buses offered better realisation besides the benefits associated with increased use of public transportation. Bangalore, he said, had the largest fleet of Volvo among the 15 cities that have deployed the vehicle.
Volvo, which recently sold its 5,000 bus (including to private operators) in the country, is “extremely happy about the government speaking about [creating] smart cities. It is a phenomenal opportunity… ready to share our knowledge, capacity and talking to the government,” he said. The company, which completed an expansion project over the last two years, “need not invest anything new. We are future ready,” Mr. Sriprasad said, adding a lot of prototype building work was also undertaken at the project.
On accidents involving Volvo buses impacting the sales, he said: “The buses we make are safe.” A pointer to this was the customers placing repeat orders with the company.
News: The Hindu, Zig Wheels
