The contract will initially see the supply of Volvo’s latest Euro 6 B8RLE buses. “The Euro 6 Volvo B8RLE is well proven both in the Australian market and globally, and continues to set the industry standard for fuel efficiency, drivability and lifecycle costs,” Downs said.
Truck Centre WA (TCWA) has partnered with Volvo as their servicing dealer for more than 50 years and employs more than 240 staff across its WA network. The new deal directly secures the jobs of 17 personnel at TCWA, and three Volvo employees in Perth – including an additional Field Service Engineer.
The new contract is Volgren’s third with the PTA. Peter Dale, Chief Executive Officer of Volgren said he was thrilled and honoured to extend their involvement with the PTA beyond 20 years.
“Volgren has partnered with the PTA since 1999, delivering more than 1,800 route buses on-time and on budget.
“Our association with Western Australia and the PTA is one of the longest and most successful in the history of the Australian bus industry, and it’s a partnership that we’ve never taken for granted.”
Dale said the fact that some of the first vehicles supplied to the PTA are still in operation – or are only now being retired while still in excellent order – spoke volumes about the quality of his company’s engineering and overall product.
“The value we provide to the PTA comes from an unrivalled whole-of-life bus cost. We are proud to offer a bus that, with its advanced engineering and unique CO-BOLT design, ultimately delivers savings to the people of Western Australia,” Dale said.
The new deal secures the jobs of 81 people employed at Volgren’s Malaga manufacturing facility, which is quickly becoming an economic hub, connected to more than 140 businesses, many of them small, Western Australian-run ventures. Volgren estimates there are approximately 150 Western Australians employed outside the company in the local supply chain as a direct result of the work Volgren creates.
“The new contract provides job security and continuity to around 140 local businesses that rely on the collaboration to employ significant numbers of people and, in some cases, to remain feasible.”
“We’re committed to investing in the state’s skilled workforce and, under the new contract, we plan on increasing local fabrications and securing a local sub component manufacturer,” Dale said.
The modern, aluminium, low-floor diesel buses will have USB charging points, meet Euro 6 emissions standards and will be fully wheel chair accessible.
The first Volgren-bodied Volvo B8RLE Euro 6 prototype for the new contract is expected to be delivered in August this year. Full production will commence in October 2019, with 66 buses to be delivered to the PTA in the first twelve months.
(Ends)
18-03-2019
For more information or interviews please contact
Lauren Downs, General Manager Volvo Bus Australia 0459 882 941,
or
Peter Dale, Chief Executive Officer Volgren 0408 146 230
