Volvo Buses
UNITED KINGDOM & IRELAND
The new environmentally- friendly vehicle, featuring advanced parallel hybrid technology, is just one of nine vehicles on display from Volvo’s market leading bus and coach ranges, including the Volvo 9700 - currently International Coach of the Year.
In addition to the complete Volvo 9700 Prestige Plus product, no less than five bodybuilder brands – including Sunsundegui, Jonckheere, Wrightbus and ADL products from Falkirk and Scarborough – are on display on the Volvo stand, which is always a focal point of the industry’s biennail show.
As well as hybrid technology, key themes at the show this year include Volvo’s on-going commitment to further reducing the environmental impact of its products, as well as new initiatives to further improve operator productivity and profitability.
For instance, through the Volvo Engine Emissions Upgrade programme, operators of existing Volvo B9TL Double Deck buses can upgrade the power unit to fully meet Euro 5 emissions standards, thereby qualifying for tax rebates, as well as further improving its environmental performance.
Volvo Dynafleet is also a proven tool for enhanced management and control of vehicle fleets, drivers’ hours and performance and is an excellent example of how technology is helping save costs and improving operational efficiency. It is now available as standard on the Volvo 9700 as well as available as an option across the entire Volvo bus and coach range.
Speaking at the show, Steve Dewhurst – Managing Director of Volvo Bus in UK and Ireland said, “The events of recent months have underlined just how rapidly our world is changing. Now, more than ever, travel by bus and coach has a vital role to play in providing an efficient, affordable and sustainable transport system.”
“Concern for the environment has long been a core Volvo value, long before it has assumed the social, political and economic importance that it has today. As all the vehicles on display here show, we are continuing to refine and enhance our bus and coach range so that they are ever more fuel efficient and environmentally sensitive and that they can deliver new levels of operator choice and passenger comfort.”
“The introduction of our new hybrid Double Deck bus signals that Volvo, as one of the world’s leading industry brands, is ready, willing and able to meet the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.”
He added, “Owning and operating a Volvo bus or coach has always been as much about in-service support as it is about the product itself. Although we live in changing and ever more uncertain times, this on-going commitment hasn’t changed, as the introduction of a number of new initiatives clearly shows.”
The wider availability of Volvo Dynafleet, the introduction of a new factory-renovated engine scheme, an engine emission upgrade offer for certain Volvo Double Deck buses, further enhancements to Volvo Action Service and Volvo’s Driver CPC training programme – all have one thing in common. They are designed to improve the efficiency and profitability of bus and coach operations, because now, even more than ever, the productivity of every operator really counts.”
ENDS
4 November 2008
Photographs: A selection of images to accompany this and other show press releases is available for download at the media centre section of www.whenproductivitycounts.com