Interview with Mr. Akash Passey, Senior Vice President – Region International, Volvo Bus Corporation, and Chairman, Volvo Buses India
Volvo Buses has maintained its market leadership in India despite growing competition in recent times. The market, especially the intercity coach segment, has been down for almost two years though there have been clear signs of revival of late.
We have a quick chat with Mr. Akash Passey, Senior Vice President – Region International, Volvo Bus Corporation, and Chairman, Volvo Buses India, to find out what could drive growth in India’s bus and coach industry and about Volvo’s role in and plans for the same.
Excerpts:
What are your expectations from the different stakeholders in the bus and coach industry in India?
In India, the coach industry has been down for the last couple of years, with most of the business based on Government-subsidized city bus schemes. It is good to note that the market is now coming back to normal as we see a bit of an upturn in the coach market which I think will stay for a couple of years. As an economy, we have the possibility to make good use of it and move to the next level of technology like, for instance, the Volvo Dynamic Steering System which is much better than a conventional power steering system.
The bus industry all over the world is driving change. Key players like ourselves have to bring in the latest technologies in the world so that the new and efficient solutions which lower the life cycle cost come to markets like India more or less at the same time when they are launched globally. The Indian Government and other stakeholders should work towards gearing up for this growth by focusing on key areas such as infrastructure development and modifying the taxation policies for coaches, for India to take lead in the bus industry. When it comes to volumes, India is the second largest bus market in the world, but we need to see how we can modernize the buses to be able to provide excellent long-distance travel, give India’s smart cities a good city concept and also use India as a hub for export to different parts of the world as in the case of Volvo Buses.
As the market leader, is Volvo planning to launch any new product to help revive the intercity coach segment in India?
Volvo Buses has been leading the way in India for the last 15 years. The long-distance coach market is not performing well because the economy has been down, as a result of which the coach customers have not been able to see good business. We are glad to see the market coming back now.
We have a full product available – the 14.5 m and 13.7 m multi-axle coach with 11 L engine, the 12 m coach with 7 L engine and the 13.7 m version with a 9 L engine. The new facelift versions of our coaches are also now available. The market is coming back and the customers have to make best use of it.
When can we expect Volvo buses with alternative driveline in India?
We are looking to introduce our hybrid buses in India, and you will see them in the coming months. We are already in dialogue with a few cities like Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi. The hybrid solution is a self-sustaining one with a diesel and an electric motor of its own with a battery. We have over 2,000 Volvo hybrids running around the world, and I think Volvo will set a new benchmark in India when we come with the solution.