Volvo and FirstGroup plc Sign a Major Seven Year Service Contract in UK

    STOCKHOLM, Sweden--Nov. 1, 2001--In the single largest deal for full size buses in the UK this year, confirmed at the Coach and Bus Show 2001 in Birmingham, 175 new Volvo B7L Single Deck and B7L Double Deck buses have been ordered by leading UK transport group FirstGroup plc.
    Equally significantly, Volvo Bus will take over every aspect of the servicing and maintenance of a total of 373 vehicles at five FirstGroup locations in the United Kingdom, including the complete operation of the workshop facilities.
    The agreement will run initially for a seven year period and will see Volvo providing the highest possible standards of fleet maintenance at a pre-determined cost base, ensuring on-going vehicle availability for First Group's bus operations.
    This innovative programme involves Volvo franchise dealerships undertaking all aspects of vehicle service and repair as well as full responsibility for local workshops. This extended Volvo Contract Maintenance agreement is an example of the type of tailored solutions available to Volvo operators under the Volvo Bus Service banner.
    Volvo Bus Service is a term which describes the associated services and support from Volvo which are geared to ensure that operators get the very best out of their vehicles.
    They cover a wide spectrum - from dealer based support, through to European wide emergency assistance from Volvo Action Service - right through to contractual and financial arrangements such as preventive and contract maintenance, operating leases and contract hire and even transport management systems.