The Hindu Business Line : Volvo conducting feasibility study

Mumbai, Oct. 17 Volvo India Pvt Ltd, makers of the Volvo bus and truck range in India are evaluating a feasibility study on the Nissan Diesel range of heavy duty vehicles (HDV) and its foreseeable presence in the country.

The company is conducting a study on the 25-49 tonne segment, quite similar to that of the Volvo truck range.

However, the range would cater to different applications, said Mr Eric LeBlanc, Managing Director, Volvo India.

They will add on to the other tractor trailer applications and tippers (construction trucks) will be introduced also, he added.

On checking out the global Nissan Diesel Web site, there are two range of heavy duty vehicles namely, ‘Quon’ and ‘Big Thumb’ present in its product portfolio.

No time period was mentioned for the outcome of the feasibility study.

The purpose of conducting a study in the HDV segment is to offer a wide truck range in that particular segment, thus catering to each and every application that is present in the market today, said Mr LeBlanc.

As and when the company is fully operational with its new wide range of HDV in the market, it will then focus on medium duty vehicles that cater to the 8-16 tonne segment, he added.

With respect to the company’s study on the LCV market and its lookout on a possible tie-up with the local partner, Mr LeBlanc said the company is more focused on the Nissan Diesel HDV evaluation study.

Domestic sales

Meanwhile, in domestic truck sales, the company has posted a growth of 16 per cent for Jan–Sept 2007 over the same period last year.

The company for the calendar year 2006 had posted truck sales of 612 units.

Local bus sales have seen a drop by 15 per cent for the period Jan–Sept 2007; this was primarily due to the decision buying pattern among prospective customers.

Due to the joint venture announcement between Volvo and Jaico (bus bodybuilder), many customers preferred to wait for the new plant to be set up where the new fully built buses would be manufactured jointly by Volvo and Jaico.

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