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Volvo Bus & Coach – From strength to strength in 2018…and beyond pressure on. Volvo Bus & Coach seems to have this under control, however, with good management in charge. On the opening day of the new facility, there were 34 vehicles on site and some more in the system. Dave Porter, Retail Sales Manager, who looks after the Irish market, said that the company will soon have digital configuration tools that will make vehicle selection a lot easier, even enjoyable!
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olvo Bus & Coach (UK & Ireland), based in Coventry has enjoyed a busy and successful 2018, with new products and an exciting new coach sales and customer handover facility, which has just been completed. While Nick Page, Managing Director, Volvo Bus & Coach (UK & Ireland) is the first to admit that this year has been very challenging, he said that the company will defend its position “fiercely” in the marketplace.
New Volvo 9900 Although most people are aware of the new Volvo 9900 coach, at this stage, there is nothing like the “razzmatazz” of a new launch to generate renewed interest in the brand and ultimately sales. Using the October Euro Bus Show at the NEC, Birmingham as the premiere platform, the 9900 was introduced into the UK market this month, and is making its Irish debut here at the CTTC Coach & Bus Show. Based on the well-established and proven Volvo B11R chassis, the 9900 will be specified in both 13.1m & 13.9m lengths, with either 53 or 57 seats and a demountable toilet. After the Show in Birmingham Nick Page said they had 11 fi rm orders for 2019 secured and expect to conclude a few more deals in the short to medium term. Volvo Bus partners with MCV
Volvo Bus is close to its customers and from word on the street, a slowdown is on the horizon. That lull is the uncertainty of Brexit. As its customers are currently busy, the present situation belies the fact that there is a pending downturn, according to Nick, it’s just that everyone is experiencing uncertainty; “Th is has made everybody from the big groups to the tour operators and the family run business putt ing off making buying decisions for at least a year,” stated Nick. But it’s not all doom and gloom in his eyes; “Like every cloud, there is a silver lining, the parts business has seen an improvement, so that is an encouragement.” Earlier this year Håkan Agnevall, President, Volvo Buses, said that the company sees a very bright future for Volvo in the Citybus market and also said that at the end of the IAA Commercial Vehicle Show in Hannover, the Swedish brand had fi rm orders for 150 units of its new 9700 and 9900 coach ranges. New Centre at Coventry Following an investment of £1.4 million, Volvo Bus & Coach Sales Centre is now open for business. Commenting on the year long project which has come to fruition, James Hyde, Retail Sales Director said: “It’s four times larger than the previous facility and we can now offer our customers to come visit and help design and decide on what their new coach will look like. Then later they can come and pick it up in surroundings similar to that of a car show room. Of course, used vehicles customers are also welcome here also, we always have a stock of quality vehicles available here, ready to sell.”
A surprise announcement for those attending the Euro Bus Show was that the Project 523 Concept will be built in partnership with Egyptian company MCV. Speaking at the announcement, James Hyde said; “There is a growing demand for a competitively priced fi xed spec coach and we feel the combination of the Volvo B11R with MCV bodywork will be competitive in this market.”
For most manufacturers maintaining the correct level of pre-owned stock is a delicate balance between enough choice for customers and not too much as that will have the fi nance department putt ing the FLEETBUS&COACH | Winter 2018
Text: Sean Murtagh - sean@fleet.ie