Volvo bags bus order from BMTC

Volvo, after its successful entry into the luxury bus segment a few years ago, now has entered the 'city bus' segment by bagging an order from Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC).

Announcing this on Tuesday, Rune Lundberg, senior vice-president region international Volvo said "the first order is for 25 buses from BMTC and the buses will be delivered by the end of 2005."

City buses are those having a low floor and low entry point, thereby facilitating and speeding up the entry and exit of commuters.

The chassis is the Volvo B7RLE and will be assembled at Volvo?s factory in Bangalore. It has a 7-litre engine that meets the Euro 3 emission standards. The body is built on the same design as the Volvo 8700, which is currently used in Europe.

"India is fast becoming one of our key markets," he said adding that "the country is already among the top 10 markets globally. This progress will get stronger as the company is now entering the city bus market. This market has annual sales of 10,000-12,000 city buses each year."

The company in just over three years launched intercity coaches and has already captured the minds of Indian bus passengers.

"There are presently around 750 Volvo coaches on the roads between various cities in India and Bangladesh. Volvo has become the dominant maker of luxury intercity coaches, which has strengthened Volvo's brand. Passengers don't ask to buy a luxury ticket, they ask to buy a Volvo ticket," said Lundberg.

"Our intercity coaches have already changed the way people perceive luxury coaches in this country," said Akash Passey, head of Volvo Buses in India.

"Now Volvo city buses have the ability to do the same in Indian cities - providing sustainable public transport solutions, that keeps pace with the rapid development and growth our cities."