More than 100 participants from around the U.S. and Canada attended the event, held at the Volvo Trucks New River Valley assembly plant and designed to give customers insight into current Volvo technologies and operations.
“Our 360 event gives us the chance to listen to customers, answer their questions and show what we are doing with our EPA10 engines, as well as with other technologies and business solutions,” said Ron Huibers, senior vice president, sales and marketing, Volvo Trucks North America. “As we focused on efficiency, productivity and profitability, it became clear that Volvo’s EPA10 engines in particular are generating tremendous interest within the industry.”
The marketplace has had a year to get familiar with the Volvo EPA’10 engines, and the early adopters have become fans.
“The Volvo EPA10 solution meets the most stringent emissions standard in the world,” said Huibers. “Just as importantly, our engines are meeting and exceeding the customer expectations, particularly when it comes to fuel efficiency and performance.”
Volvo’s EPA10 engines, with Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR), deliver near-zero emissions and provide up to a 5 percent fuel efficiency improvement over EPA 2007 engines.
The Volvo engines were the first certified to the EPA10 standards, and the company began filling orders last fall. As of July, orders for Class 8 trucks equipped with EPA‘10 certified Volvo Group engines – which include the Volvo D11, D13, and D16 –surpassed the 10,000 mark. Order intake has since continued to be strong, in line with high customer demand.
“What we’re hearing from the industry is that Volvo has the best solution for 2010,” said Patrick Collignon, plant manager for Volvo Truck’s New River Valley facility. “And that buzz is translating into orders.”
Participants in the Volvo 360 event were able to tour the New River Valley plant, get a behind-the-scenes look at the production processes being employed there, and see how the Volvo EPA10 engines are integrated into the design and operation of the company’s trucks.
During ride-and-drive sessions as well as break-out groups, participants also had opportunities to learn about other Volvo technologies and services designed to improve productivity and safety, including the Volvo I-Shift transmission. The Volvo I-Shift is a 12-speed, two-pedal automated transmission that integrates seamlessly with all Volvo engines. Using microprocessors, it continuously monitors changes in grade, vehicle speed, acceleration, torque demand, weight and air resistance. With the engine and transmission in constant communication, I-Shift automatically selects the best gear.
“I-Shift allows every driver to be a fuel-efficiency expert, reducing cost and putting less stress on the driveline,” said Huibers. “When I-Shift is combined with Volvo’s new EPA10 engines, customers are seeing even more significant fuel savings.”
“Volvo Trucks continues to bring unmatched value to our fleets and drivers,” Huibers continued. “From boosting fuel economy to enhancing productivity to generating savings, our customers came away with a clear picture of how Volvo adds significant value to their businesses.”
More than 100 participants from around the U.S. and Canada attended the recent Volvo Trucks 360 event designed to give customers insight into current Volvo technologies and operations.
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.
October 13, 2010
For further information, please contact John Mies, Volvo Trucks North America, phone 336-393-4300, email john.mies@volvo.com
www.volvotrucks.us.com