Volvo Buses and Al-Futtaim Auto & Machinery Company (FAMCO) have received an order from the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to supply 143 Volvo luxury intercity coaches over the next two years, in what is FAMCO’s largest deal with the RTA to date.
The deal was signed following the RTA’s evaluation of the buses to meet its 10-year total cost of ownership (TCO) requirements, including fuel and operational costs.
Volvo’s B11R coach has a 11-litre 430hp Euro 6 engine and comes with fuel-saving services like the Volvo I-Shift gearbox, advanced engine management system and I-Coaching, a real-time device which offers the driver continuous on-the-job training with instant feedback on their acceleration, braking, cornering and over-revving.
All 143 coaches delivered to the RTA will be fitted with Sunsundegui SC5 bodies and equipped with ITS systems for fleet tracking. They will have premium interiors fitted with 55 ISRI lightweight ergonomic seats and accessories like USB charging capabilities, foot rests, cup-holders and plush wooden finish flooring.
Akash Passey, senior vice president, Volvo Bus Corporation, said: “Being the first bus manufacturer to introduce Euro 6-standards to the Middle East has enabled us to deliver the most fuel efficient, cost effective and environmentally conscious public transport solution, helping the RTA to continue to lead the way in safety and sustainability. These buses mark the beginning of a new breed of modern buses focused on delivering clean, safe and efficient public transport.”
Nigel Johnson, senior managing director, FAMCO UAE, added: “The Volvo coaches will be operating not only in Dubai, but across the entire UAE, bringing people closer and uniting communities, and we’re proud to be a part of the RTA’s goal to increase the community’s mobility via public transport by as much as 30% by 2030.”
