Volvo targeting metro transport utilities

Volvo India is in talks with transport authorities in Mumbai (BEST), New Delhi and Hyderabad to sell its luxury buses.

"Over the next 2-3 years, Volvo has plans to sell over 200 luxury buses to authorities in Mumbai, Delhi and Hyderabad. Our immediate plan is to tap all the major metros in the country," said Akash Passey, senior vice president and business head, Volvo Buses.

Volvo India has so far sold 25 city buses to Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC). In addition, Volvo India is in discussion with representatives of 28 states in the country through ASRTU (Association of State Road Transportation Authorities).

ASRTU is the union of about 60 transport authorities in the country.

Volvo buses are priced at about Rs 40-70 lakh. The electronic transmission buses include more automatic options and less manual ones.

They comply with the latest emission norms (Bharat III). Automatic transmission enables a driver to drive the bus without worrying about using the clutch and shifting gears.

After their launch in 2001, the company has sold more than 950 buses, of which, 13 per cent are exported to countries like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Volvo is a fully owned subsidiary of Volvo, Sweden. The company imports critical components for its buses and trucks at the company's plant near Bangalore. The facility has the capacity to assemble chassis for 1,000 buses and trucks.