Launches new FM 380 8×4 tipper
With a booming infrastructure sector, the construction industry in India has seen rapid growth in verticals like road construction, irrigation projects, hydel projects, stone quarries, marble quarries, granite quarries and others. In line with its strategy to step up presence in the construction segment, as announced a year ago, Volvo Trucks has launched the new FM 380 8×4 tipper to woo more customers from the mass market segment into the premium segment where the company believes it can offer a ‘much better value proposition’.
Having seeded its FMX tippers with customers in the construction segment, the feedback Volvo received was quite obvious – customers are looking for trucks which can deliver the lowest cost per ton, carry more load per trip and offer the highest productivity and uptime. The two new products it has introduced accomplish all of these and more by bringing industry leading technology to work for the construction business.
Speaking at the launch event at the Volvo Trucks plant in Hosakote near Bangalore, Mr. Vinod Aggarwal, Managing Director & CEO, VE Commercial Vehicles Ltd., said: “This is a momentous occasion for Volvo Trucks as we introduce our latest offering in the construction segment, the FM 380 8×4. Infrastructure development is driving the country’s economy today and thanks to the Government’s focus on construction projects, there is tremendous activity across the country. With our new truck, we wish to redefine the efficiency and productivity levels in the construction segment. If a construction company uses 100 trucks for a project, it can perform the same job with better efficiency using just 60 units of the FM 380 8×4; that is the kind of fleet optimization that can be achieved with our new truck.”
With road construction going on at a rampant pace in different parts of the country, at a rate of around 42 km per day, the sale of construction trucks has grown by a whopping 88 per cent in the first six months of the current fiscal. Going by the numbers, the timing of Volvo’s foray into the construction space seems to be quite perfect.
And, it’s not just the numbers; customer preferences are also changing big time. Talking about the same, Mr. Aggarwal added: “The customers now are more conscious about the cost per ton and they care more about total cost of the ownership over its life-cycle. With increased investments into infrastructure projects, there are more opportunities for Volvo Trucks in India as customers are willing to opt for highly productive and efficient transport solutions. That is important for us at Volvo Trucks; all our offerings emerge from the customers’ needs and end with their satisfaction with a focus on customers’ success.”
Volvo’s construction solutions, available in Volvo FM and Volvo FMX models, allow the customer to choose a high-performing, fuel-efficient truck with versatile capability that is tailored to make his operations more productive, profitable and cost-efficient.
Several unique Volvo Trucks features are already well-proven and are making a positive difference in construction projects today, in applications such as irrigation, road construction and quarrying. In creating new, state-of-the-art technology for construction, the company has followed a clear-cut approach – increase productivity and profitability by making assignments faster and easier for drivers. In short, the solutions are designed for the driver and optimized for the customer.
Mr. Dinakar B, Senior Vice President – Sales, Marketing & Aftermarket, Volvo Trucks India, VE Commercial Vehicles Ltd., said: “Volvo Trucks is geared up for the challenges to come. With the launch of the FM 380 8×4 and the first-of-its-kind FMX 460 8×4 19.5 cu.m Granite Body, we are geared up to raise the standards of productivity, efficiency and reliability in the construction segment to support our customers in achieving higher operational efficiency and savings with timely delivery of projects. At Volvo, we don’t sell just products, we sell ‘transport solutions’. We drive the total life cycle cost economics for our customers. Apart from delivering superior products, we provide driver training to ensure our vehicles are utilized in the best possible way. In addition, we bundle our unique set of service offerings along with the product to ensure maximum uptime of our trucks.”
When asked about the key factors behind Volvo’s dominance in the premium tipper segment where it boasts of a market share of around 75 per cent, Mr. Dinakar was quick to respond: “Our understanding of and support to our customers through the best possible service and uptime. We have always been there with them in terms of addressing their requirements. Another factor has been the quick product adaptation in terms of technology support from the Volvo Group. Applications such as deep mining are very severe and technologically demanding. It calls for a lot of understanding and very close cooperation with the customer which we have done right all these years; that is what differentiates us from the rest.”
FM 380 8×4 tipper
A product that is ‘Born to Work’ – the ones that own a Volvo FM appreciate the details that help them do a better job in everyday situations. The robustness of this design is going to help them get more work done with less delay. The Volvo FM 380 is an exceedingly flexible truck. The aesthetically and aerodynamically designed truck is a superior product that is a friendly, safe and hardworking.
The FM 380 8X4 provide for particularly economical operation with their fuel-efficient l-Shift gearbox, the extended service lives of many components, low repair and maintenance costs and high body-mounting ability.
The vehicle offers the largest capacity body in the segment delivering highest productivity, most powerful and technologically advanced engine and is the only model in its segment to come with an AMT – Volvo’s superior l-Shift technology- delivering higher fuel efficiency, lower maintenance and better driver comfort. Volvo FM cabin also comes with a host of safety and comfort features.
FMX 460 8X4 tipper
The Volvo FMX 460 8×4 is a best-in-class solution when it comes to executing large construction projects in tough operating conditions. While the tipper’s superior engine technology and intelligent l-Shift transmission ensures high fuel efficiency and lowest cost per ton, the FMX is robust and has been developed to make driving construction applications easier and safer.
FM 420 6X4 tractor
The big road and infrastructure projects require handling of large quantities of material over long distances in efficient manner. The Volvo FM 420 6X4 tractor is built with enhanced features, strengthened chassis and a more powerful driveline configuration, to get the difficult job done quicker and easier. The vehicle’s large payload capacity can be attributed to the powerful Volvo engine, superior transmission and a weight optimized design.