New Volvo buses fly into CCH fleet

CCH (Comet Car Hire), part of Transdev Group, has taken delivery of four full-size Volvo B8R MCV eVoTor coaches, which will operate on a dedicated contract carrying pilots and cabin crew between London Heathrow airport and nearby hotels.
 

Finished in silver metallic paintwork, the premium 55-seat coaches become the largest vehicles in the customer’s 65-strong fleet, and will run up to 365 days per year, supporting arriving and departing flight crews.

Kevin King, Head of Fleet for Transdev Airport Services and CCH, says: “Over the last four years we’ve added 64 Volvo B8R MCV eVoRa buses into the Transdev fleet at Heathrow airport, so when the time came to select a few larger coaches for CCH, Volvo was the clear choice for us. The products are well-liked by our drivers and the aftersales service we receive is both responsive and reliable.

“We have a great relationship with the team at Volvo Truck and Bus Centre South & East’s London Heathrow depot; for certain aspects of our maintenance programme, they will send one of their technicians directly to our site, which helps us in reducing the amount of time a vehicle is out of service. 

All four 12.6m coaches feature 55 high-quality passenger seats, trimmed in one colour moquette and imitation leather side flairs and headrests, with a magazine net and footrest, and powerful air-conditioning system. Airline crew can stay connected on the go with individual USB charging points, and a premium Bosch audiovisual system with twin 19” LED screens. The specification also includes Hanover white LED destination panels to the front, rear and side of the vehicle. 

As a testament to Volvo and MCV’s build flexibility, luggage capacity has been maximised at the request of CCH. This sees the generous overhead storage racks complemented by an increased amount of space in the main luggage compartment – which rises from 9m³ to 11m³, thanks to the removal of the toilet from the specification, given CCH’s focus on short-distance transfers.

Volvo’s B8R chassis is powered by the versatile D8K 7.7-litre engine for world-leading fuel-efficiency, producing up to 350 hp and a peak torque of 1,585 Nm. This is driven through a 12-speed, push button I-Shift automated transmission which combines smooth and precise gearshifts with high average speeds for outstanding driveability.

All four coaches have been built PSVAR-ready. Whilst a side-mounted wheelchair lift is not required for the vehicle’s current roles with airline crews, one can be added at a later stage, to maximise the coaches’ residual value. 
 

Transdev is a mobility company operating in 19 countries, collectively transporting an average of 12 million passengers daily. At London Heathrow, in addition to the work undertaken by CCH, it operates the airport-branded car park shuttle buses and supports airside passenger bussing.

Warwick

26 March 2025

For more press information, contact: Charlotte Baker, Garnett Keeler PR, on phone: +44 (0)7599 653949, or email: charlotte.baker@garnettkeeler.com.

Volvo Buses is one of the world’s leading providers of sustainable people transport solutions. The offer includes premium city- and intercity buses, coaches, and bus chassis as well as services for increased productivity, uptime and safety. Volvo Buses has sales in 85 countries and a global service network with more than 1,500 dealerships and workshops. Volvo Buses is part of Volvo Group, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of trucks, buses and construction equipment as well as drive systems for marine and industrial applications. Volvo Group also provides complete financing solutions. For more information visit http://www.volvobuses.com