Against a backdrop of the new Volvo and Mack range, addressing the assembled crowd of VIP Customers, factory staff and media, Merrick used the occasion to reiterate the importance of road transport, local manufacturing and the role that Volvo Group Australia plays in keeping Australia moving.
“Clearly as you can see here, manufacturing in Australia is alive and well. We employ over 1400 people locally with more to come and we are so proud to have made significant investments to build these new trucks here in Australia at this facility.”
“Because of this investment we are able to employ more than 1400 people and are able to support 90 local suppliers. We spend more than 400 million dollars in the local supply chain every year. And our intention is to increase that local investment in the future.”
“Aside from the challenges that the world has faced in recent times one thing that has been reinforced here in Australia has been the importance of both road transport and truckies”.
“Supply chains don’t just feed industry, they feed society.”
Prime Minister Morrison also used the occasion to reiterate his support for local manufacturing and resilient supply chains.
"We make things in Australia, and we make them well," Morrison says of his tour of the plant.
"At the Volvo and Mack factory in Wacol, southwest of Brisbane, they’ve been proudly making trucks for Australia and beyond for almost 50 years.
"Our new tax incentive for new investment has meant a surge of new orders, which will be keeping these workers at this plant very busy this year.”
"Each and every truck that rolls off the assembly line proudly wears the Australian made logo and because of their continued investment they employ more than 1,400 people and support 90 local manufacturing suppliers, some of whom I met today.
"Our modern manufacturing strategy is all about supporting business to continue to invest in making things in Australia and ensuring there's a big future for manufacturing in this country."
At the conclusion of the press conference, The Prime Minister also took the opportunity to depart at the wheel of the Volvo FL Electric which will be undergoing trials with Linfox in coming months.
For further information, please contact:
Matt Wood – Strategic Projects & Communications Manager (Volvo Group Australia)
Mobile: +61 (0)436 681117
Email: matthew.wood@volvo.com
About Volvo Group Australia
Volvo Group Australia is responsible for Mack and Volvo truck brands within Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and the South Pacific Islands, and UD Trucks in Australia. Mack and Volvo trucks proudly carry the Australian Made certification for trucks built at the local Wacol factory in Brisbane.
We provide complete transport solutions for professional and demanding customers, including complete solutions for financing and service. 1400 people are employed by Volvo Group Australia across the country, with over 90 local suppliers also benefitting from local production. Volvo Group Australia boasts the largest dealer network in Australia and New Zealand with service points across the country giving access to metropolitan and regional customers.
Volvo Group Australia is part of Swedish-based Volvo Group, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of trucks, buses, construction equipment and marine and industrial engines.
