Press releases 2001

In October, WM-data and Volvo Information Technology will be launching a new player on the telephony market. The company will supply telephony services to medium-sized and large companies in the Nordic area. Initially, the company will have about 40 employees and is expected to have a turnover of SEK 125 million as early as next year.

Volvo Trucks has received an order for a total of 600 Volvo FH12 trucks from Iran. This is the second order for the Volvo FH12 from Iran in May the company received an initial order for 500 trucks.

Volvo Global Trucks today announced an aggressive program to respond to a depressed North American market that shows few signs of a near-term recovery. The main actions are:  Reducing North American industrial capacity by closing the Winnsboro plant. Consolidating North American support functions to eliminate duplication of effort between Volvo Trucks North America and Mack Trucks, Inc. Strengthening of the customer support system and the product offering.The company estimates a one-time restructuring charge of SEK 1,280 M (120 MUSD). These actions will result in improved annual profits of SEK 1,600 M from 2003 (150 MUSD).

Volvo's largest sponsorship investment ever, the Volvo Ocean Race, sets sails on Sep 23, 2001 when the eight race boats competing leave Southampton, UK. The Volvo Ocean Race is the Grand Prix of ocean races and rated as one of the top seven TV sporting events, worldwide. The race covers 32,700 nautical miles with nine stopovers with finish in Kiel, Germany in June 2002.

Each boat competing in the Volvo Ocean Race is equipped with two engines from Volvo Penta. One engine should, if possible, never be used during the race, the other is decisive for the boats completing the race at all. This is how Volvo Penta's engines contribute to completion of the Volvo Ocean Race as fast as possible and as safely as possible.

MARKNADENS BREDASTE PRODUKTPROGRAM - PREMIÄR FÖR NYA TURISTBUSSEN VOLVO 9700Under de senaste tolv månaderna har Volvo Bussar presenterat en rad nyheter inom ramen för den helt nya TX-plattformen, vilket gör produktprogrammet till marknadens bredaste och mest kompletta. En stor del av detta visar Volvo Bussar på Persontrafik 2001 i Göteborg den 20-22 september. Främsta nyheterna för Sverige är turistbussen Volvo 9700 med en ny aktivt styrd löphjulsaxel, lågentrébussen Volvo 8500 anpassad för intercitytrafik samt ledbussen Volvo 5000 med en ny naturgasmotor som klarar Euro 4.

Mårten Wikforss has been appointed Director of Press Relations at AB Volvo. He will take up his new position on October 1, 2001.

In April 2002, the third stage of a large biogas plant will be inaugurated outside Helsingborg, Sweden. Volvo Aero will be responsible for the technical equipment, including a gas-turbine-powered CHP (combined heat and power) cycle for conversion of biogas to 800 kilowatts of electricity and 1500 kilowatts of district heating. The new CHP plant will be a reference facility with an environmental focus, which is expected to attract much interest throughout Europe.

This year's Volvo Environment prize has been presented to Professor George M Woodwell from Massachusetts in the USA. A prominent scientist, well ahead of his time, who has had to fight to defend his beliefs. He was one of the first people to come to the conclusion that the greatest threat to the global environment was actually posed by human beings. A theory that was initially received with criticism and scepticism, but which now forms the basis of ecological research the world over.

It will now be easier for vehicle owners and transport purchasers to assess the environmental impact of different truck models.