New range of FH, FM and FMX trucks unveiled
Volvo Trucks is all set to continue its dominance in the Indian premium truck segment following the launch of three new world-class models to further strengthen its presence in the market. The new range comprises three trucks which set new benchmarks in performance and technology – the Volvo FH, Volvo FM and the Volvo FMX. The vehicles were unveiled to the media at an event held in Bangalore recently, following which more than 150 VIP customers from all over India were invited to experience driving the vehicles.
Addressing the media, Mr. Philippe Divry, President, Volvo India Private Ltd, and Senior Vice President, Volvo Group, said: “This is a big day for us because, with the introduction of the new range, we are actually introducing our most technologically advanced and most productive ever trucks in the Indian market. This is not just a new range, this is a quantum leap for the industry which will break new records in terms of performance and efficiency. We are the undisputed leader in the premium truck segment in India, and this new range will keep moving the bar further in terms of productivity and efficiency for our customers.”
Volvo has invested more than $3 billion (close to Rs. 18,000 crores) and 14 million engineering hours in developing the new platforms, and to ensure the best possible outcome, the new products have undergone testing for over 21 million km, which is more than 500 times the circumference of the earth.
Volvo had created the premium truck market in the country when it first introduced its FM 8×4 mining tipper in 1998 and then brought in the Volvo FH for ODC applications. The last new product added to its portfolio was the 10×4 dump truck which even today is the largest truck in the country. The Swedish giant has been the outright leader in the segment despite growing competition, with over 65 per cent share of an average annual market size of around 1,500 units. With the renewed portfolio, the company will be able to offer a far superior value-proposition to its customers and in the process, raise the bar to new heights in the industry.
The completely renewed product portfolio, which includes the flagship Volvo FH that was voted the ‘International Truck of the Year 2014’ in Europe, is pushing the limits on what premium trucks can offer, setting a new benchmark for transportation.
Comprising Volvo FH, Volvo FM and the Volvo FMX, the new range is the most technologically advanced in India, boasting of important improvements in all crucial areas: from productivity, fuel efficiency and safety to maximizing uptime. The range also introduces unique features such as the intelligent I-Shift automated gearbox technology optimized for tough and rugged mining operating conditions, as well as Volvo’s unique Dynafleet telematics system which allows following up on fuel consumption over time, and, together with Volvo Trucks Driver Training services – coach drivers into further improving their fuel saving skills.
Dynafleet also enables customers to see in real time the location of their vehicles and their performance data that are critical to have control on the fleet, letting the customers fully focus on running their core business.
Long haul champion
The Volvo FH is an innovative truck built with the driver in focus. It is wired to make operations more efficient, more productive, safer and more comfortable for over dimensional cargo transport. The new Volvo FH 520, built grounds up, is more robust leading to increased technical load carrying capacity (GCW) by 33 per cent to 200 tonnes.
“The new Volvo FH is an icon reborn, building on a successful heritage and now making a quantum leap to set a new benchmark in India and the rest of the world. It is loaded with features to improve overall efficiency and make life on road more safe and comfortable than ever before. “Our long haul champion deserves a lot of credit for the success of our company as it has been driving progress for our customers and our company for more than 20 years. Over the years, we have kept steps ahead of our competition and I can assure you that we will continue that tradition”, stated Mr. Peter Blomdahl Vice President, Project Management, Volvo Group Truck Technology.
Action hero
The Volvo FMX is extremely robust and is the ultimate truck for mining and construction, integrating the experience of Volvo in this segment around the world and especially during its 15 years of leadership in India. The new vehicle model is equipped to deliver the best-in-class productivity with an increased body capacity of 19.5 cu.m, which allows carrying an additional bucket of payload. Also, it will offer the I-Shift gearbox for mining as an option, which makes it easier to drive the vehicle under the toughest conditions, thereby increasing productivity. The I-shift has been a major success globally in markets like Europe and also in traditionally-manual gearbox markets such as the US.
Commented Mr. Rama Rao. A.S., Senior Vice President, Sales, Marketing and Aftermarket, Volvo Trucks, VECV: “With the new Volvo FMX, we are sure to take productivity and performance to an all-new level. This platform has been developed with the enormous experience of Volvo Trucks in India and worldwide in deep, rough mines and in heavy construction applications. Our strong position across the globe has given us the understanding of different markets, the customers and their challenges, all of which has helped us build this robust new platform with smart technology to increase productivity, uptime and reduce driver fatigue. The new Volvo FMX is powerful, agile, robust and efficient where it matters – in tough and rugged conditions, just like an action hero.”
All-round player
Lastly, the Volvo FM is a flexible all-round player. The power rating of the new Volvo FM 6X4 tractor has been improved from 400 hp to 440 hp leading to increased pulling power. Also, it would now come with a 125 tonnes (technical GCW) puller, thereby meeting the latent need of customers to have a product in this range. It is an extremely versatile truck that can be tailored for each specific need of the customer’s business. It would also have a Euro 4 6X4 rigid variant with 420 hp and I-shift for special applications.
“The Volvo FM comes with more powerful engines, new puller variant, new 33-ton rear tandem axle, and new 10-ton front axle on 6×4 rigids. It gives unmatched driver comfort with new dashboard, instrument cluster, improved ergonomics, air-suspended driver seats and many more features. With all this, I am sure the new Volvo FM is a big leap in productivity and efficiency, and together with its comprehensive service offering, it will set new benchmarks in our industry”, said Mr. Anders Mattsson, Vice President, Global Brand & Strategy Management, Volvo Trucks.
The new Volvo FM was first introduced in Europe in 2013 with over 14,000 units operating successfully in over 140 countries across South America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
Delivering value
The new Volvo truck range has hit the market at probably the best possible time. With the new government proactively working towards infrastructure development and opening up the mining sector, the new range could straightaway have a growing market to cater to. Offering better productivity and uptime for customers, the new products will be a very attractive proposition for customers, most of whom might go for new purchases in the near future after keeping them on hold during the slowdown phase.
Mr. Vinod Aggarwal, CEO, VECV, commented: “With new hi-tech capabilities and a wide range of benefits, the trucks are equipped to serve every Volvo customer in India, from construction and mining to heavy haulage. Infrastructure development in India is gathering momentum, providing significant opportunities. We at Volvo Trucks want to maximize our operations off the back of these major developments; we want to offer total peace of mind to our customers and facilitate their growth. With the introduction of the new Volvo truck range, we are confident of our ability to be a key player in this exciting journey.”
Though expectations about the new truck range are quite high, Volvo Trucks is stepping up the overall customer experience comprising of two key factors – premium product solutions and premium customer service. Mr. Rama Rao added: “We are the No.1 preferred truck brand in the premium European segment with over 65 per cent market share, but more importantly we also focus on being No.1 in terms of customer satisfaction. We believe in creating and delivering value to our customers. All our offerings emerge from the customers’ needs and end with their satisfaction. With our comprehensive offerings meeting today’s business challenges in transportation, we can help our customers to improve their productivity and profitability more effectively and aim at what we call customer delight”.
Volvo Trucks is currently present in India with more than 150 touch points, including state-of-the-art workshops and service support centers. Sounding highly optimistic about the long-term potential of the Indian market and Volvo’s role in it, Mr. Divry added: “We think there is no better moment to introduce our new trucks. The Volvo Group has been extremely confident about the future outlook in India and we are not scared of the short-term cycles. We remain confident of India’s growth prospects.”