Truck deliveries January-May 2004

Total deliveries of trucks from the Volvo Group’s three truck companies increased 20% through May this year, compared with the year-earlier period. Deliveries from Mack rose 28%, while deliveries from Renault Trucks were up 14%. Deliveries from Volvo Trucks increased 23% during the period.

”Order bookings for the Group's trucks continue to develop favorably and remain at a high level. We are now proceeding with increasing the pace in our industrial systems," says Volvo CEO Leif Johansson.


During the past 12 months, order bookings for the Group’s truck operations were 39% higher compared with the preceding year. Orders were up 20% in Europe, while the increase in North America was 86%.


Total deliveries by market for the Volvo Group’s truck companies (Mack, Renault Trucks and Volvo Trucks):

 

Delivered Units

Year-to-Date

Change

Volvo Group

2004

2003

 

Europe

42 261

39 438

7%

    Western Europe

37 874

35 813

6%

    Eastern Europe

4 387

3 625

21%

North America

17 129

12 513

37%

South America

3 351

2 054

63%

Asia

8 659

4 778

81%

Other markets

2 734

2 989

-9%

Total Volvo Group

74 134

61 772

20%

 


Mack

Deliveries from Mack through May totaled 9,327 trucks, up 28 percent from the same period a year ago. The increase in deliveries, combined with strong order support, indicates continuing optimism among North America truck customers. In light of the strength in the market, Mack has announced increases in its truck production at the Macungie and New River Valley plants during the coming months.

Deliveries by market area:

 

Delivered Units

Year-to-Date

Change

Mack

2004

2003

 

North America

8 621

6 665

29%

South America

244

162

51%

Asia

19

27

-30%

Other markets

443

457

-3%

Total Mack

9 327

7 311

28%

 


Renault Trucks

Deliveries through May totaled 28,706 trucks, a rise of 14% compared with the corresponding period in the preceding year. The increase is mainly due to a strong development outside of Europe but also to a very good performance in Europe for the Renault Magnum, Renault Midlum and Renault Kerax.

In Western Europe, sales in France increased 4%, Portugal 31%, Spain 21% and UK 12%. In Eastern Europe, sales continued to develop well with strong performance in Poland and Romania. On the markets outside Europe, kit deliveries (CKD) have five folded mainly due to strong deliveries in Iran.

Deliveries by market area: 

 

Delivered Units

Year-to-Date

Change

Renault Trucks

2004

2003

 

Europe

24 655

23 268

6%

    Western Europe

22 720

21 529

6%

    Eastern Europe

1 935

1 739

11%

North America

99

112

-12%

South America

201

30

570%

Asia

2 785

544

412%

Other markets

966

1 249

-23%

Total Renault Trucks

28 706

25 203

14%


Volvo Trucks

Volvo Trucks’ deliveries during the period January-May amounted to 36,101 trucks, an increase of 23% compared with the year-earlier period. All markets are increasing and the positive trend in North America and South America continues – with rises of 47% and 56%, respectively. Deliveries in Europe were also high, an increase of 6% was reported for the period in Western Europe and a full 30% in Eastern Europe. The largest increases were noted in Germany and Spain, where the demand for heavy trucks was very strong. The increase in Asia was 39%, primarily as a result of a continued favorable level of deliveries to Iran.

Deliveries by market area: 

 

 

Delivered Units

Year-to-Date

Change

Volvo Trucks

2004

2003

 

Europe

17 606

16 170

9%

    Western Europe

15 154

14 284

6%

    Eastern Europe

2 452

1 886

30%

North America

8 409

5 736

47%

South America

2 906

1 862

56%

Asia

5 855

4 207

39%

Other markets

1 325

1 283

3%

Total Volvo Trucks

36 101

29 258

23%

 

June 16, 2004

For further information, please contact:

Media Relations:
Bernard Lancelot, Renault Trucks, +33 4 72 96 27 59
Bob Martin, Mack, +1 (610) 709-2670
Claes Claeson, Volvo Trucks, +46 31-66 39 08

Investor Relations:
Fredrik Brunell, AB Volvo, +46 31 66 11 91