Volvo eyes high performance truck mkt in India

Kolkata, Aug 10: Leading truck maker Volvo is targeting the high performing truck segment in India.

The Indian market is maturing and there is a genuine need for modern, efficient high performance trucks to ensure sustainable transport solutions, Eric Leblanc, managing director, Volvo India Pvt Ltd said.

Volvo is trying to consolidate presence in sectors like mining, heavy goods transportation and applications demanding high safety and heavy haulage, Leblanc said. He was launching the New Volvo FH and FM high performace trucks in the Eastern region.

The company, which started operations in 1998 with Rs 300 crore investment, has so far sold 600 trucks and 400 buses in India.

"We have a capacity to produce 1200 trucks and buses at Hosakote near Bangalore by operating in a single shift. The requirement for two shifts may arise in the next two years time," Leblanc said.

Leblanc said the Indian plant exports 130 trucks to Korea every year and some buses were exported to Srilanka. Volvo also outsourced components worth Euro 70 million from India.

UNI