Corporate news 2010

In less than ten minutes, Volvo’s specially-built articulated haulers clear the runways at Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport, which never has had to close because of the snow.

Volvo Trucks’ impact test is a 50-year veteran in the world of safety testing. It is still the toughest yardstick in the truck industry and is stricter and more comprehensive than the latest EU legislative requirements. “We will continue to test our cabs according to the previous Swedish impact test norms,” comments Carl Johan Almqvist, Traffic and Product Safety Director, Volvo Trucks.

The profit margin for many European haulage firms is just two percent. This means that every extra kilogram that a truck rig can carry may make a big difference. That is why Volvo’s engineers are investing heavily in weight-optimising their truck from the wheels up. They are helped in this process by the world’s largest test rig.

The SARTRE project aims to develop technology for vehicles that can drive themselves in long road trains on motorways and demonstrate road train technologies enabling improvements in traffic flow and faster journey times. The project, in which Volvo Group is involved, has released a documentary film (8 minutes) describing the progress of this multi-partner research initiative.

When authorities in Bangalore need to decongest the streets and reduce the environmental impact, buses from Volvo are a part of the solution. The middle and upper income segments are gradually leaving their vehicles at home and opting for public transport.

Shell Chemicals and Bertocco have jointly developed a system that in a simple and effective way can help reduce the risk of truck roll-over accidents. That is why the two companies receive the 2010 EuroTra Safety and Innovation Award. The award is given once a year by the European Transport Training Association (EuroTra) in collaboration with Volvo Trucks.

The UK haulage company PCL Transport has just taken delivery of 70 Renault Premium Long Distance vehicles, totally replacing its previous fleet which was entirely made up of trucks from a competitor of the Volvo Group.

Volvo Automotive Finance (China) Limited (VAFC) has been recognized by the world’s largest and leading professional body of management accountants – The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), with the award of the Outstanding Training Partner for the Year 2010 in Shanghai.

Volvo Financial Services (VFS) in Asia announced today that it will accelerate its business growth in Thailand through an alliance with United Overseas Bank (Thai) Public Company Limited.

When the head of environmental affairs at Volvo Buses, Edward Jobson, started blogging about his work, he never imagined the impact his blog was going to have. He is now in direct contact with everyone from politicians to customers.