Volvo Trucks increased its North American sales 52 percent in 2004, to 26,035 trucks delivered, an increase the company attributes to high freight demand and carriers’ need to upgrade their fleets.
Worldwide, 2004 was the best year in Volvo Trucks history, the company announced. Deliveries increased 29 percent to 97,264. Volvo Trucks’ largest market is Europe, where it delivered 43,210 trucks in 2004.
“I am delighted with last year’s results, and we can see that the need for transport will continue to be strong in 2005,” said Staffan Jufors, Volvo Trucks president and CEO. “The forecasts for both Europe and North America indicate a positive trend over the coming year.”
The total North American market for heavy trucks of all makes almost matched Europe’s in 2004, with 255,000 trucks delivered in North America versus 256,000 delivered in Europe, Volvo said. In 2003, by contrast, European heavy truck deliveries beat North America by nearly 50,000 units, Volvo said.
The Volvo Trucks International Division recorded its best year ever in 2004, with 26,304 trucks delivered, 9,979 of them in Iran.
Volvo Trucks, which has markets in more than 130 countries, specializes in heavy trucks weighing more than 16 tons.
