Sweden--Regulatory News:
“Together with the staff in Saffle and Poland we have invested in new city bus models and improved efficiency, but unfortunately the negative development of the European market nonetheless forces us to take this decision regarding our employees in Saffle”
Volvo (STO:VOLVA)(STO:VOLVB):
Following weak market developments and tough competition in Europe, Volvo Buses is now planning to concentrate its European production of complete buses in the company's main plant in Wroclaw, Poland.
This planned restructure means that production at the Volvo Buses plant in Saffle, Sweden, will be terminated at end June 2013, provided that the necessary union negotiations have been completed by then. All told about 330 permanent employees and about 60 consultants are affected by the closure. Volvo Buses will retain its aftermarket function and technical support in Saffle to secure continued good support for the company's Nordic customers and in order to offer local employment. The aim is to develop this operation so it encompasses about 50 jobs.
"The demand for new buses in Europe has dropped steadily over the past few years, paralleled by considerable pressure on prices, particularly in the Nordic markets. By concentrating the production of complete buses in one single plant, we can reduce our costs and thus reverse our negative profitability trend," explains HÃ¥kan Karlsson, President Volvo Bus Corporation.
Volvo Buses has considerable excess capacity in its European complete-bus plants, even though its market position has improved over the past year. The company assesses that volume growth in Europe will remain low in the coming years and that price pressure will continue. By focusing all production on the much larger plant in Poland, Volvo Buses expects to achieve the economies of scale that are essential in order to tackle the increasingly tough competition on the market. The plant in Poland has four times the capacity of the one in Saffle.
"Together with the staff in Saffle and Poland we have invested in new city bus models and improved efficiency, but unfortunately the negative development of the European market nonetheless forces us to take this decision regarding our employees in Saffle," says HÃ¥kan Karlsson.
Volvo Buses in Saffle will now commence trade union negotiations on the relocation of production.
"At the same time we will examine opportunities for finding similar employment within the Volvo Group," says Hakan Karlsson.
If production is relocated, it is expected that this will negatively impact the Volvo Group's operating profit in the fourth quarter of 2012 to the tune of about 100 million kronor.
Volvo Bus Corporation is one of the world's largest manufacturer of large buses and coaches. The range comprises complete vehicles, chassis, bus bodies, transport system solutions for metropolitan traffic, leasing, financing and service contract maintenance. Volvo Bus Corporation is part of the Volvo Group, one of the world's leading manufacturers of trucks, buses and construction equipment, drive systems for marine and industrial applications, aerospace components and services. The Group also provides complete solutions for financing and service.