Denny Slagle, President and CEO of Volvo Trucks North America, participated in an event at the White House today during which President Obama signed a presidential memorandum aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving the fuel efficiency of medium- and heavy-duty trucks and buses. The memorandum outlines principles agreed to by Volvo Trucks, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other heavy-duty truck and engine companies. Also joining the President today were DOT Secretary Ray LaHood and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson.
“Participating in this effort is consistent with measures we already have in place to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from our operations and our products,” Slagle said. “Volvo Trucks joined the EPA's Climate Leaders Program in 2004 as one of the original charter companies. We pledged to reduce GHG emissions from our operations by 20% per unit from 2003 – 2010, and we’re working towards this goal through implementation of various energy efficiency and renewable energy use initiatives at both our New River Valley plant and Greensboro Campus. Late last year, we also signed on to U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Save Energy Now Pledge calling for the industrial sector in this country to reduce energy intensity by 25% over the next 10 years.
“In addition to the good work at our facilities, we’ve also reduced the carbon footprints of our products. Using less fuel is good for our customers’ bottom lines, as well as the environment. With the SCR technology we’re using to meet the EPA2010 emission requirements, we’ve improved the fuel economy of our trucks by 5% – or more in some applications.
“As part of a global company, we’re pleased that the principles agreed upon here in Washington today call for worldwide alignment of GHG emission and fuel efficiency standards. We also fully support the provisions that any such standards applicable to medium- and heavy-duty vehicles must be established in a way that recognizes the commercial needs of the trucking industry and the demands of heavy-duty applications, takes into consideration technology improvement opportunities across the entire vehicle and its operation, is compatible with the complexities of the marketplace, and avoids unintended consequences.”
Volvo Trucks North America’s operations and products are guided by the company’s three core values: Safety, Quality and Environmental Care. The Volvo VN and VHD trucks are assembled in the United States at the New River Valley Plant in Dublin, Virginia, while Volvo engines for North America are assembled in Hagerstown, Maryland. Both plants are certified to ISO14001 environmental and ISO9001 quality standards.
Volvo Trucks North America is part of the Volvo Group, one of the world's leading manufacturers of trucks, buses and construction equipment, drive systems for marine and industrial applications, aerospace components and services, and one of the world's leading producers of heavy-diesel engines (9-16 liter). The Group also provides complete solutions for financing and service. The Volvo Group, which employs about 96,000 people, has production facilities in 19 countries and sells their products in more than 180 markets. Volvo Group sales for 2009 amounted to approximately $29 billion. The Volvo Group is a publicly-held company headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden. Volvo Shares are listed on Nasdaq OMX Nordic Exchange and are traded OTC in the U.S.
May 21, 2010
For further information, please contact Jim McNamara, Volvo Trucks North America, phone 336-393-2143, email james.mcnamara@volvo.com
www.volvotrucks.us.com