Volvo Bus, a global manufacturer of buses and coaches, has secured an order for 323 coaches from IAMSA in Mexico, to be delivered in 2010. The company opines that Mexico is a large country with poorly developed rail traffic, and coaches are an important means of transport for long journeys. For Volvo Buses, Mexico is one of the largest global markets.

IAMSA, which owns one of the largest bus fleets in Mexico with about 10,000 buses and coaches, has approximately 2,400 Volvo coaches. The buses will be manufactured in Volvo’s plant in Mexico City.

Volvo and IAMSA have close cooperation, and prior to this order, a number of work groups were involved in identifying the solutions required by IAMSA for its business. These included the specifications for the coaches, financial solutions and aftermarket issues.

According to Volvo, the order is for Volvo 9700. Half of the coaches will be equipped with Volvo’s 12-liter engine and half with the new fuel-efficient, 13-liter engine. The latter meets new environmental requirements according to Euro 5, which was introduced in Europe in October. IAMSA is a global company that has participated in the field testing of the 13-liter engine, which will be introduced in Mexico this year.

Volvo Bus is part of the Volvo Group, a global manufacturers of trucks, buses and construction equipment, drive systems for marine and industrial applications, aerospace components and services.

Source: Automotive Business Review Manufacturing