Volvo Gets Bus Order From South Africa

STOCKHOLM November 13, 2003; Dow Jones is reporting that AB Volvo Thursday said it has received an order for 100 of its B7R bus chassis for South Africa.

The order, from Remant/Alton Land Transport (PTY) Ltd., is for buses that will be used for public transport services in and around Durban on the east coast of South Africa.

The chassis are packaged as "Completely Knocked Down" by Volvo Buses in Boraas, Sweden, and are being built locally at the company's assembly plant in Gaborone, Botswana. The South African bodybuilder Busaf is bodybuilding the chassis in Johannesburg.

Head of Volvo Buses in South Africa, Sam Mansing, said there is an opportunity for strong development for Volvo in South Africa.

"Buses are a very important means of transport in South Africa. At the same time there is pressure for a general change in the bus fleet which, together with an expansive development of society, is creating big opportunities," Mansing said.

The total market for imported brands in South Africa is about 1,000 bus chassis a year. Volvo has a market share of about 20% and is consequently the third largest imported brand in the market, the company said.