Volvo Construction Equipment will build on its strong market position in China, Volvo CE president Pat Olney said in a speech to the media at Bauma China in Shanghai this week. The company has spent more than SEK 1 billion (U.S. $150 million) in expanding capacity and product offerings in China.
Volvo’s SDLG as well as its Volvo brand have strong market share in the Chinese excavator and wheel loader segments.
“Volvo has been an active partner in the Chinese marketplace for a decade and is here to stay,” Olney said. “Our successes over the last decade have surpassed even our most optimistic targets, but we remain just as ambitious today than ever before.”
Olney said the company’s investment has “led to the introduction of products tailored to the needs of local users, such as the Volvo L105 wheel loader and EC80D excavator you see launched here at Bauma China.”
Olney said customer needs are changing in China, with greater interest in customer support agreements, used equipment, remanufactured parts and Volvo Financial Services. These services are being delivered to customers across the country from a growing network of Volvo and SDLG sales and service branches.
“We also want to lead the field when it comes to our social responsibility,” added Olney. “Initiatives such as being the first company in the industry to sign up to the WWF Climate Savers program underline our commitment to environmental care. This commitment doesn’t stop when we deliver a machine — how it is used is equally important. Our hugely popular ‘Operator Idol’ competition championed the merits of fuel efficiency to 158,000 Chinese operators. We are also committed to promoting and developing local talent, and are working with government, academia and business to boost competence development in the industry.”
Olney added that the company made a Chinese Yuan Renmimbi 3 million (about U.S. $482,000) donation to the Yao Foundation’s 2013 Hope Primary Basketball Season, which aims to help children in underprivileged areas. “This excellent scheme further demonstrates Volvo’s commitment to local communities and public welfare in China.”
