Volvo fleet owners in India, who have been swept off their feet since Volvo low-floored buses made their debut, have a cause to rejoice. The recent announcement from the Swedish auto maker to launch CNG variant of its buses have created quite a flurry. This is in tune with the global phenomenon of automobile companies investing in alternate fuel powered motors.
According to some media reports, the metropolis of Delhi and Mumbai are possible destinations where the new CNG variant will be rolled out. No further details like order book were immediately available. The buses will reportedly be 15-20 per cent pricier than what is available in the market, the diesel variant.
The report further mentions that the new buses will be built at Hoskote facility, and are expected to enable the automaker to mop up better part of the pie in the city bus segment across the country. News from Volvo motors is that it has announced the development of a hybrid technology, which is said to be a combination of diesel and electric technology. This will beyond doubt increase the efficiency of the vehicle by almost 40 percent, but at the same time will lead to 50 percent more cost to acquire the same.
The company plans to localize its global product as per Asian and Indian market demands, as according to source in the company, India is a focus of their biggest operation in current times. Furthermore it is said that Volvo wants to develop its facilities in India so as to make it one of its hub of production, to meet global as well as domestic demands. The said project is expected to produce an all-Indian product and increase the productivity levels to 5,000 units by the year 2015.