Press releases - 2008

On 11 October 2008 the first leg of the Volvo Ocean Race got underway in Alicante, Spain. This is the tenth time the prestigious round the world sailing race has been run since its launch in 1972. Eight boats will compete over 9 months and 37,000 nautical miles for the chance to cross the finishing line first in St Petersburg, Russia in June 2009. The race will visit the main markets in Europe and North America as well as stopovers in growing markets such as Brazil, China, India and Russia.

Olof Persson, 44, will assume the position as president of Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) on November 1, 2008. He replaces Tony Helsham, 54, who will remain in the Volvo Group Executive Committee with a responsibility to support the growth of ‘soft’ products in the Group. Olof Persson is currently president of Volvo Aero. He will, as of the same date, be replaced by Staffan Zackrisson, who is presently head of marketing, programmes and sales in Volvo Aero.

Volvo Construction Equipment will be among the leading exhibitors at Bauma China in Shanghai. On show will be the new Volvo EC60C, the company’s recently introduced range of road machinery and a host of other machines.

Volvo Construction Equipment has developed a range of feller bunchers to add to its growing range of dedicated forestry machines.

Volvo CE’s latest bold venture into predicting the form and function of construction equipment puts the articulated hauler under the spotlight.

There’s a new participant in the road building business today – in bold new colors. And you’ll see what it’s all about at CONEXPO 2008 in March.

After the Volvo Group’s notable showcasing of carbon-dioxide-neutral trucks in Stockholm and Brussels last year, it is now Washington, DC’s turn. In conjunction with the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC) arranged by the US State Department, the Volvo Group will later today present seven different trucks, all of which can be driven without any net contribution of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.

The Construction Equipment Finance Industry

Part of the SEK 85 billion Volvo Group, Volvo Construction Equipment enjoyed its most successful year ever in 2007, breaking records in sales and number of machines produced. It also made two major acquisitions; significantly broadening its product offering and customer base.

In 2007 Volvo Construction Equipment announced the development of a new product class of pipelaying machines targeting, primarily, contractors in the on-shore oil and gas industry. Believed to be the most significant equipment innovation in this industry segment in nearly 80 years, the first prototype of the Volvo PL4611 and the Volvo PL4608 are now in the field with production availability to begin in the 2nd quarter of 2008.