GOTEBORG, Sweden, December 11, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- The Renault Mascott light duty truck will be marketed to complement the Volvo (Nasdaq:VOLVY) truck range in Sweden. Mascott will be distributed through 15 of Volvo's truck dealer companies, which means that we can offer a full truck range from 3.5 tons gross vehicle weight. Deliveries will start early 2003, concentrated to distribution centres throughout the country. The Renault Mascott range covers 3.5 to 6.5 tons total weight, and is ideal for light deliveries, municipal service and construction work.
The Renault Mascott has a separate chassis, cabin and front, axle assemblies, double driving wheels and suspension just like a large truck. This makes for great flexibility in the vehicle and allows additional body building opportunities. The cabin provides excellent vision through its large curved windscreen. Seat belts are fitted and airbags are optional. The cab is designed with crash deformation zones. The vehicle has disc brakes as standard on front and rear axles. ABS is standard in Sweden.
For Sweden, Mascott will be powered by a new, 2.8 litre diesel engine, rated at 106, 125 and 146 HP. The engine has variable turbocharging, electronic direct injection via common rail, and high torque at low revs. It has manual transmission with a five or six-speed gearbox.
Swedish market potential for Light Commercial trucks The annual Swedish market for light trucks such as the Mascott, trucks with a separate chassis and cab, is about 6,700 units. Volvo Lastvagnar Sverige, the Swedish market unit of Volvo Truck Corporation, will with Mascott concentrate primarily on the heavier segment of 5.5 - 6.5 tons in this class.
Service for Renault heavy trucks as well At the same time as introducing the Renault Mascott, Volvo truck dealers will also offer servicing of the rest of the Renault truck range already rolling on the Swedish roads.
Pictures: http://www.mascott.nu/
December 11, 2002
For further information, please contact:
Kjell Stjernlof, Head of Renault Mascott Volvo Lastvagnar Sverige AB Tel: +46 31-66 62 15, or +46 706-30 70 44 Ulf Arensberg Volvo Lastvagnar Sverige AB Communications Tel: +56 31-66 66 50, or +46 705-68 66 33
The Volvo Group is one of the world's leading manufacturers of trucks, buses and construction equipment, drive systems for marine and industrial applications, aerospace components and services. The Group also provides complete solutions for financing and service. The Volvo Group, which employs about 71,000 people, has production facilities in 25 countries and sells their products in more than 185 markets. Annual sales of the Volvo Group amount to 18 billion euro. The Volvo Group is a publicly-held company headquarterd in Goteborg, Sweden. Volvo shares are listed on the stock exchanges in Stockholm, London, Brussels and Frankfurt and on NASDAQ in the U.S.
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