Volvo launches new S80 sedan; prices start at Rs 41.35 lakh

Swedish luxury car-maker Volvo Auto India on Wednesday launched an updated version of its S80 sedan in India, with price starting at R41.35 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

The new generation Volvo S80 comes with various features including pedestrian and cyclist detection with full auto brake, Volvo Auto India said in a statement.

The car would be available in the country in two diesel variants, priced at R41.35 lakh and R44.80 lakh, respectively, (ex-showroom, Delhi).

The company also launched its first exclusive lounge at the Terminal 3 domestic departure, Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi. “Terminal 3 IGI Airport is one of the largest aviation hubs in South Asia with a heavy influx of high profile fliers. Creating a Volvo lounge at such a strategic location is yet another step closer towards our existing and prospective customers,” Volvo Auto India MD Tomas Ernberg said. Commenting on the launch of S80 sedan Ernberg said: “We have focused on quality and attention to detail in order to give S80 a major boost and sharpen its competitiveness.” 

Group to launch UD Buses Bangalore, March 19: Volvo Buses on Wednesday said it will roll out its new range of less expensive buses branded ‘UD Buses’ later this year, eyeing a potentially large market for these vehicles in Indian cities and also for export to emerging markets. The company has entered into a joint venture with SMK Automobiles to set up a manufacturing plant near Bangalore for the new range.


UD, a Japanese maker of buses and trucks, was acquired by Volvo in 2007 but its bus operations were discontinued in 2010 as the focus shifted to developing trucks.

“UD buses have had a strong brand presence in Japan and southeast Asia. Now we adapt the buses for growth markets, starting with India,” said Håkan Agnevall, president of Volvo Group’s bus operations. Volvo’s current line-up of buses are priced upwards of R80 lakh. With the UD range, it is eyeing the upper end of the gap between premium buses and the mass segment buses that cost up to R25 lakh. FE Bureau

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‘Faulty’ Volvo Design Led to Fire, Says CID

The Crime Investigation Department (CID) said here on Wednesday that ‘faulty’ design of Volvo buses is one of the major causes for a fire which engulfed a luxury bus and claimed 45 lives near Palem in Mahbubnagar district.

Speaking to reporters, additional DGP, CID, T Krishna Prasad said that the findings shows that there is a ‘defect’ in the design of Volvo buses which do not make them road worthy. We will submit a report to the centre about this, he said.

Meanwhile, the CID sleuths on Wednesday arrested JC Uma Reddy, J C Prabhakar Reddy ,relatives of former minister J C Diwakar Reddy, and 9 others in connection with the case and produced them before the court in Wanaparthy. Later, the court granted them bail.


The arrested persons include -- Fairoz Basha, Shakeel Jabbar, Jameel Jabbar, Syed Akram Ahmed, Shabbir Khan, Amanullah Khan, Mohammed Rafeeq, J C Uma Devi and Yaseen Abdul Raheman.


The design of the Volvo bus is such that one main fuel tank of 300 litres is very close to the battery compartment, which  tends to be in close proximity to the road on the right hand side of the bus.

After the bus hit the culvert, the iron pipe on the culvert railing broke and pierced into the bus, due to which sparks emanated from the battery compartment, igniting the main fuel tank, which was made of plastic, Prasad explained.


“This pipe acted like a capillary and spilled the fuel into the bus. The entire interior of the bus was made of PVC material, which is highly inflammatory. Emergency exit doors were blocked by passenger seats, in violation of rules. The owner and the operator had altered the interior design to accommodate more passengers, to maximise revenue,” he said.

“The bus manufacturer Volvo, bus owners   Diwakar Road Lines and the bus operator was Jabbar travels have all made the bus endangering to harm life. Diwakar road lines and Jabbar travels forged lease document.

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Volvo launches V40 Cross Country luxury hatchback at Rs 28.5 lakh

Swedish luxury carmaker Volvo today launched its compact crossover vehicle V40 'Cross Country' priced at Rs 28.5 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) as part of plans to increase sales in India by around 50 per cent this year to about 1,200 units.

The company's Indian arm Volvo Auto India has also tied up with Bajaj Allianz for vehicle insurance in the country.


"The car will bring in new impetus to our growth strategy in India. So far we have bookings of about 70 units and our target is to sell about 120 units this year," Volvo Auto India Managing Director Tomas Ernberg told reporters here.

He said the company will also have two new launches -- fresh models of sedan S60 and SUV XC60 -- in October to rev up sales.


"Last year, we sold about 800 units and the target for this year is around 1,100 to 1,200 units," he added.

In the first quarter of this year, the company sold 276 units, up 140 per cent from the year-ago period.


The V40 Cross Country will directly take on BMW's X1 which is priced between Rs 27.9 lakh and Rs 32.5 lakh (ex showroom Delhi).


The vehicle is powered by a 2 litre, 5 cylinder diesel engine. The company claims it has a mileage of over 16 kmpl.

Asked if the company planned to start assembling its vehicles in India, he said: "We will continue to import completely built units. Yes, in the long run, we would need to assemble here."

Volvo Auto India has set a target to sell 20,000 units per annum by 2020 in the country, by when it could be consider having assembly operations.

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Volvo launches V40 Cross Country luxury hatchback at Rs 28.5 lakh

Swedish luxury carmaker Volvo today launched its compact crossover vehicle V40 'Cross Country' priced at Rs 28.5 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) as part of plans to increase sales in India by around 50 per cent this year to about 1,200 units.

The company's Indian arm Volvo Auto India has also tied up with Bajaj Allianz for vehicle insurance in the country.


"The car will bring in new impetus to our growth strategy in India. So far we have bookings of about 70 units and our target is to sell about 120 units this year," Volvo Auto India Managing Director Tomas Ernberg told reporters here.


He said the company will also have two new launches -- fresh models of sedan S60 and SUV XC60 -- in October to rev up sales.

"Last year, we sold about 800 units and the target for this year is around 1,100 to 1,200 units," he added.

In the first quarter of this year, the company sold 276 units, up 140 per cent from the year-ago period.


The V40 Cross Country will directly take on BMW's X1 which is priced between Rs 27.9 lakh and Rs 32.5 lakh (ex showroom Delhi).


The vehicle is powered by a 2 litre, 5 cylinder diesel engine. The company claims it has a mileage of over 16 kmpl.


Asked if the company planned to start assembling its vehicles in India, he said: "We will continue to import completely built units. Yes, in the long run, we would need to assemble here."

Volvo Auto India has set a target to sell 20,000 units per annum by 2020 in the country, by when it could be consider having assembly operations. .

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