Press releases

Volvo Trucks has scooped the prestigious industry award for its Volvo FH Electric. It’s the first time ever that an electric truck wins the award.

In South Africa, three children under the age of 15 die on the roads every day. They are among the almost 12 500* road fatalities per year, which unfortunately makes it a country with one of the highest per capita road deaths in the world. This makes traffic accidents the leading cause of death of healthy children in SA.

When two companies’ passion for outstanding customer service meet, true transport magic happens. This is the case with Goldfields Logistics and Volvo Trucks, as the two companies continue a more than 13-year partnership.

Volvo will hand over 45 Volvo FH Euro 5 truck-tractors to add to DHL Supply Chain’s South African fleet. The company already took delivery of the first five units, with the balance to be delivered by November this year.

Volvo Trucks ramps up electric truck volumes and starts serial production of heavy battery electric trucks at the Ghent factory in Belgium. This means that electric Volvo trucks are now built in four factories – three in Europe and one in the US.

Today marks 30 years since Volvo Trucks introduced the Volvo FH, the company’s best-selling truck ever. From its start, Volvo’s flagship model has been characterised by its distinctive exterior and interior design, superb driver comfort and technically advanced efficiency and safety solutions.

Volvo Trucks South Africa has officially launched its electric truck range in South Africa. The company is offering its most popular extra heavy trucks in its electric line-up: the Volvo FH, the Volvo FM, and the Volvo FMX. They will be available in truck tractor or rigid configurations, from 4x2 to 8x4, giving it the industry’s most extensive portfolio of zero exhaust emission trucks.

Aiming to increase the safety of cyclists and pedestrians, and also facilitate the truck drivers’ work, Volvo Trucks is now introducing a range of new safety systems for its vehicles. This comes after Volvo Trucks South Africa raised local awareness of its STOP LOOK WAVE road safety campaign for children earlier this month.

Every year, approximately 1.3 million people are killed and 50 million injured in road accidents worldwide. According to South Africa’s Road Traffic Management Corp (RTMC), 12 545 people died in road accidents in the country in 2021. For people aged 5-29 years, there is no greater threat to their lives. And globally on the roads, 1 in 4 deaths occur among pedestrians and cyclists.

Volvo Trucks leads the market for heavy electric trucks after the first quarter of 2023, both in Europe and in North America. In total, the Swedish truck manufacturer has sold almost 5,000 electric trucks in about 40 countries. Now, its electric product range is being made available in new markets in Asia, Latin America and Africa.

Emitting only water vapor, hydrogen-powered fuel cell trucks will be an important part of Volvo Trucks’ zero exhaust emission product portfolio. Now, the vehicles have passed an important milestone – namely, being test-driven on public roads.

Volvo Trucks announced its top dealers in the country. Volvo Trucks and Buses Johannesburg was named the Mega Dealer of the Year, while Magnis Trucks Pretoria East walked away with top honours in the Medium Dealer category. Volvo Trucks and Buses Beaufort West was crowned Small Dealer of the Year.

Volvo Trucks South Africa took their first electric FM truck tractor on a road trip to see what it is like driving on local roads. Currently, they are busy with the homologation of these extra-heavy electric truck units and will start with some local testing after this has been concluded. Plans are to present the first of these vehicles to a local customer, KDG Logistics, within the next two months, once all statutory procedures have been adhered to.

Volvo Trucks has developed a line of heavy electric trucks which are customised for the construction industry. By using electric trucks, companies can now meet the increasing demand for vehicles with lower noise levels and zero exhaust emissions at and around urban construction sites.

In 2022, the number of heavy electric trucks on the roads in Europe and the United States grew faster than ever before. Volvo Trucks have now sold more than 4 300 electric trucks globally in more than 38 countries since 2019, when production of these units commenced. Volvo Trucks will start delivering heavy electric trucks to its customers in South Africa from May 2023. In South Africa, these heavy electric trucks fall within the extra heavy commercial vehicle segment. This classification comprises trucks with gross vehicle weight ratings (GVM) exceeding 16.5 tonnes.

2022 was a record year for Volvo Trucks. The company delivered an all-time high number of its trucks to customers and also increased its market share in 41 countries.

Volvo Trucks is now launching a new, more powerful gas-powered truck that can run on liquified biogas. The new truck can carry out demanding, long-distance transport tasks while reducing overall CO2 emissions. The range will also be available for order by South African customers.

Volvo Trucks South Africa has announced the establishment of a new aftermarket and service dealer in Matsapha, Eswatini. The newly appointed dealer, Motruck, has more than two decades of experience in commercial vehicle service and maintenance, and vast knowledge of the local industry.

Volvo Trucks continues to expand its range with the launch of several new extra heavy electric trucks, making it possible to electrify even more transport routes in cities and regions. This latest addition of rigid* trucks further strengthens Volvo’s position as a leader in electric truck transport.

As the world’s first truck manufacturer to do so, Volvo has begun using fossil-free steel in its trucks. The first electric trucks with fossil-free steel are now being delivered to customers.