The truck division of Volvo India Private Limited has registered a 65 per cent growth in sales volume in 2005 despite the much slower 15 per cent growth posted by the heavy duty trucks sector in the country. |
Volvo India sold 600 trucks in the year as against 350 sold in 2004. |
According to Volvo India managing director Eric Leblanc, 70 per cent of the orders came from existing customers. |
"Customers are driving growth in the Indian market. Encouraged by the good response, we have now launched a new tipper in India with a focus on the construction and mining sector," he said. |
Volvo India had registered sales revenue of Rs 600 crore in 2004. For 2005 the revenues are yet to be worked out, he said. The company now aims to consolidate its position in the Indian market by concentrating on the R&D, tractor and cargo segments apart from construction and mining sectors. Volvo India exported 130 trucks to Korea last year. |
In an effort to gain a strong foothold in the mining sector, Volvo India on Tuesday launched its new FM9 340hp, 8x4 tipper, with increased gradeability, more power and a host of other features designed to further aid operations and support Indian infrastructure, mining and construction projects. It also launched the Volvo Trailer, the first of its kind customer outreach vehicle. |
The tipper has been designed to enhance the transport economy in the mines across all elements "" reliability, availability and performance, Leblanc said. |
There are a host of other new features in the FM9 tipper including vertical exhaust, increased capacity volumes and new body design. A unique optional feature called 'heat body', where the exhaust is driven through the truck's superstructure to prevent sticky material from the mines from accumulating, thereby increasing production levels per tipper and offering better stability. |
Leblanc said Volvo India had exported components worth Euro 50 million to Volvo group companies last year. It also exported IT resources worth Euro 7 million during the year. Volvo is currently holding roadshows across the country to introduce new truck. |