Saudi-built Volvo trucks launched

Zahid Tractor, the sole distributor of Volvo vehicles in the Kingdom and a partner in the local production, said the launch in Jeddah is on 18 and 19 of this month, followed by another unveiling in Riyadh on 25-26 and in Dammam on December 2.

In a joint venture with Volvo Group of Europe - one of the world's largest producers of heavy trucks - Zahid Tractors set up a plant in Jeddah to assemble Volvo trucks from CKUs (Completely Knocked Down Units).

The assembly plant is operated by a 65-odd workforce - 75% of which are Saudis and surprisingly, 6.5 % are deaf and mute.

Samir Al Shubili, Vice President of Zahid Tractor said the plant has a capacity to assemble 18 units a day and 1,000 units a year, noting that currently, two truck models are being rolled out in the plant. Model FH for long haul and Model FM for construction, 440HP and 400HP respectively, have an engine displacement of 13 litres and are run by diesel.

However, Al Shubili noted that the assembled trucks are not for exports, but "are meant to support the local market only."

Carrying Volvo's over 75 years of experience in the truck-building business, Al Shubili pointed out that the locally-assembled Volvo trucks maintain the same basic principle of safety and quality that the Volvo Group adhered into.

"Volvo-trained quality audits and quality manager supervise the daily operation to ensure that the Volvo standard is adopted and without ever compromising the safety and environmental care that we carefully build into each of our trucks," he added. For Volvo, progress is not just about selling more trucks, but selling trucks that limit the environmental impact.

"We (at Volvo), constantly strive to improve energy efficiency in our own operations.
And we currently plan for CO2 emission-free production in all of our plants. In parallel we continue to develop ever more efficient and sustainable transport solutions to our customers."