Only a few weeks ago Volvo Bus announced it will stop bus production in its bus plant in Wroclaw, Poland. Now Volvo Bus announces the next step in its bus production future by signing a letter of intent with Egyptian MCV for the production of electric buses for the European market. MCV will be responsible for the production of the body's on chassis delivered by Volvo Bus Sweden.
In 2022 a co-prodcuction between Volvo Bus and MCV participated in the International Bus Euro test in Ireland. Back then the story was that this model was a special project between Volvo Bus UK and MCV. Now we can see it was a start of the cooperation between Volvo Bus and MCV (Manufacturing Commercial Vehicles). The intention is that MCV will build bodies for electric buses for the urban and regional segment of the European market. Series production is planned to start in the summer of 2024 and delivery of the first Volvo/MCV electric buses will be at the beginning of 2025. MCV will produce under license bodies for the standard Volvo 7900E 12m (Volvo 7900 Electric) and the articulated Volvo 7900E Volvo 7900 Electric Artic) with both two and three axles.
For the intercity segment, Volvo Buses and MCV will work together to develop an electric offering. "We are very pleased to continue our collaboration with MCV as they have both the experience and the competence to produce the highest quality bodies that meet European standards and requirements," says Dan Pettersson, Senior Vice President at Volvo Buses. "By working with an external body builder, we have we have more flexibility to better meet market and customer requirements.”
Chassis production will continue at Volvo Bus' plants in Borås and Uddevalla, Sweden. MCV has in combination with Volvo Buses UK supplied buses to customers in the UK, such as Metroline, for service on London's public transport system. “We look forward to expanding our partnership with Volvo Buses and working together to create an attractive offering for their customers,” said Karim Ghabbour, Chairman of MCV, Manufacturing Commercial Vehicles.