The Volvo Trucks Southern Africa (VTSA) group is currently selling roughly 6 000 trucks in the region a year, with growth coming largely from outside South Africa, says MD Torbjörn Christensson.

“[Outside South Africa], we think, we can go from 500 trucks a year to 2 000 in a few years.”

As part of its African expansion programme, the Swedish truck brand is mulling establishing an assembly plant in Kenya. This plant would produce trucks for a number of countries in East Africa.

VTSA also assembles trucks in South Africa.

“Volvo Trucks is in 129 countries. We see a phenomenon where customs duties on imported trucks make it economically viable to have assembly plants in certain countries. We need to work around the customs duties, and the same is true in Kenya,” Volvo Trucks president Claes Nilsson tells Engineering News.

“In Africa, we have assembly plants in Tunisia and Morocco too.”

Nilsson says such assembly plants make sense in countries where Volvo Trucks has a “reasonable market share”.

With regard to the South African govern- ment working to increase the use of local parts on locally assembled trucks, Nilsson says Volvo Trucks was “happy to increase the local content”.

“We, together with the car industry, often use the same suppliers, so, over time, this is possible.”

He adds that his company has confidence in the long-term future of South Africa, and believes that short-term issues, such as labour instability, “will be taken care of”.

“South Africa, like many other developing countries, has seen its ups and downs. We have been through valleys and troughs in Brazil and Russia too.”

As for Africa, Nilsson says, there are “real opportunities” for economic growth, even though it is not happening yet.

“It is obvious there will be development in Africa – the question is ‘When?’.”

However, he notes that it is important for Volvo Trucks to already be in the market when that growth arrives.

“You need to choose your focus countries, and be established when the economic opportunities come.”

Christensson emphasises that Volvo Trucks is in Southern Africa “for the long term, investing for the future”.

“We are growing in South Africa, but perhaps not as much as we would have wanted to. As a whole, the region is doing well. We are committed to being a big player in this region.”

Nilsson believes that Volvo Trucks’ new FH, FM, FMX ranges will serve to increase the brand’s market share in Southern Africa.

“With many improved features, we hope to be more competitive in this market. There are many customers here who fit our profile, such as operators travelling long distances and carry- ing heavy loads.”

The New FH Range with I-See Software
The Volvo FH range will be available in eight model variants in South Africa, including the FH16700 hp 8 × 4 truck tractor.

Although the company is introducing Euro III variants as standard, owing to the current fuel quality and standards, Euro V and VI level variants are available on request.

The Volvo FH Euro III units will be assembled at VTSA’s Durban plant, with the first units expected to be delivered in April.

The FH has been Volvo Trucks’ flagship model for almost 20 years. Since the launch of a new version of the FH in 1993, more than 650 000 units have been sold globally, and it accounts for more than 60% of Volvo Trucks’ total sales.

Inside the new FH, the steering wheel offers a neck-tilt function, a world-first in the truck world. Drivers also enjoy an extra cubic metre of space.

Volvo Dynamic Steering sees an electric motor replacing the driver’s muscle power. At low speeds, a heavily laden vehicle can be manoeuvred with a single finger.

The range also offers an optional wireless remote control. With this remote control, the driver can stand outside the truck and adjust the air suspension, operate the tail lift and monitor the axle load of both the truck and the trailer.

The FH uses Volvo’s I-Shift 12-speed mechanical gearbox, which has a 3% fuel saving potential.

“I-Shift is always in the right gear for the situation at hand, making it extremely precise and cost effective,” says Christensson.

The range’s new I-See function on the Euro V and VI models makes it possible to cut fuel consumption even further.
“I-See is a software package for the I-Shift transmission. It stores information about hills as the truck drives along. The next time the truck uses the same route, I-See operates the accelerator, gears and brakes to ensure that progress is as economical as possible,” explains Christensson. “Thanks to I-See, the fleet operator could cut fuel consumption by up to 5% per vehicle.”

Other technology and equipment to save fleet owners costs includes a more energy efficient 24 V 120A alternator, an optional airflow package, engine idle shutdown and fast rear-axle ratios.

Active safety systems on the FH include optional functionalities such as Lane Keeping Support, Adaptive Cruise Control and Driver Alert Support (DAS).

DAS works by means of a video camera on the inside of the windscreen, which reads the road’s centre and edge markings, and an on-board computer, which compares the driver’s steering wheel movements with the road markings. When the driver starts weaving, the DAS alerts the driver with an acoustic signal and by flashing an indication in the driver information display.

A new Front Underrun Protection System is designed to prevent a passenger car from becoming wedged under the truck in a frontal collision.

The new Volvo FH series is also the world’s first heavy truck with individual front suspension, which has long been fitted to passenger cars.

The new FH series uses remote online communication to connect the truck directly with the workshop.
“The workshop can remotely check the actual wear of various truck components by means of the computer. As a component approaches the end of its service life, the workshop can get in touch with the fleet owner well in advance to schedule a service when it is most convenient,” notes Christensson.

The New FM/FMX Range
The FM and FMX (the FM’s robust, go-anywhere version) use an I-Shift 12-speed mechanical gearbox without a clutch pedal. This automated nonsynchromesh transmis- sion is suitable for local distribution work, construction operations and regional, national and international long-haul duties.
While the FM/FMX range is in essence identical to the FH, there is one exception: the cab is lower, making it easier to get in and out of the truck. It means it is also suited for specialised tasks such as car transport, where part of the load can be placed above the cab.
The lower-placed cab means that there is less interior space in the FM/FMX Series than in the FH. The cab is available in day- and sleeper-cab versions.

Both the FM and FMX models can be fitted with Volvo’s Dynamic Steering system.

In Southern Africa, the Volvo FM is available as a 4 × 2 truck-tractor, with sleeper cab, and is powered by a 13 ℓ diesel engine that delivers 400 hp.

Lower weight, new axle configurations, increased chassis flexibility and clear interfaces for bodybuilders all allow the customer to tailor- make the perfect truck, says Christensson.

The Volvo FMX has specifically been developed to make driving in construction applications easier and safer, he adds.

In Southern Africa, The FMX Range is available in six model derivatives – the 6 × 4 truck-tractor, an 8 × 4 rigid or a 6 × 4 rigid truck.

The FMX Series has two engine alternatives: the D13 with its 13 ℓ engine (power outputs range between 400 hp and 480 hp) and the 11 ℓ D11 engine (offering 370 hp).

The new FMX offers a redesigned cab interior and raised ground clearance.

The new air suspension is tailor-made for construction work, and features automatic ride-height control, as well as ground clearance of 300 mm.

The shorter front overhang means that the approach angle has increased.

Inside the cab the steering wheel is equipped with integrated control buttons for multiple functions, including cruise control, phone and navigation.

The vehicle also feature a new electronic structure. Using a communication unit known as the Telematics Gateway, which is standard on the FM and FMX range, the truck is linked to the GSM network. This allows the workshop to monitor the vehicle’s condition from afar, keeping a watch on brake and clutch wear, as well as the condition of the battery and air drier filter.
As part of Volvo’s Telematic Gateway, FM and FMX fleet owners also have access to the Dynafleet app, which provides constant updates on the performance of trucks and drivers in commercial fleets – wherever they are.

Volvo Action Service (VAS) on Call is another new feature that increases security for the driver. Inside the truck, this new feature is visible through the VAS button in the instrument panel.

Press once and the system connects the truck to the VAS customer helpdesk. Information transmitted from the truck allows the driver to be connected to a coordinator who speaks the driver’s mother tongue.
The coordinator receives direct information about the truck’s exact location.

VAS can also transmit the truck’s fault codes to a Volvo workshop. The fault codes allow the service technician to prepare whatever parts are needed, enabling the truck to return to operation as soon as possible.
“Instead of needing to drive out to the truck, check it, drive back to the workshop for the right parts and then return with the necessary spares and tools, everything can be brought along on the very first trip. In this way, the VAS button cuts lead times and generates additional uptime,” says Christensson.