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Dammam’s Al-Osais purchases 250 Volvo trucks despite slowdown

Al-Osais International Holding receives a mixed fleet of 250 Volvo FH and FMX trucks from Zahid Tractor in a surprisingly large-scale order given the current slowdown in heavy commercial vehicle sales in Saudi Arabia

by John Bambridge
Dammam’s Al-Osais purchases 250 Volvo trucks despite slowdown
Dammam’s Al-Osais purchases 250 Volvo trucks despite slowdown

The Dammam, Saudi Arabia-based Al-Osais International Holding has purchased a mixed fleet of 250 Volvo FH and FMX trucks from Zahid Tractor in what is a surprisingly large-scale order given the current slowdown in heavy commercial vehicle sales in Saudi Arabia.

According to one recent estimate by another major manufacturer in the region, the total volume of heavy truck sales in Saudi Arabia contracted from around 10,000 units in 2015 to 5,000 units in 2016, and has contracted by a further 40% in 2017 year-to-date.

Al-Osais reported that that the most important factors in deciding to work with Zahid Tractor were the professionalism and after-sales service, as well as the range of Volvo trucks, and their reputation for safety and reliability.

The handover of one of the first FH trucks took place last month, and was attended by Claes Nilsson, president of Volvo Trucks; Nasser Bayram, president for transport at the Zahid Group; and Sheikh Ali Al-Osais, chairman of Al-Osais International Holding.

Bayram expressed his thanks and appreciation to Al-Osais for their trust in Zahid Tractor and made assurances that Zahid would always seeks to provide the best and highest quality standards in terms of both products and services.

The partnership between Zahid Tractor and Volvo Trucks was struck in 1980, based on the shared vision of providing superior quality vehicles and after-sales services to the growing Saudi market.

In 2015, the two companies further developed their collaboration by establishing a vehicle assembly joint venture, Arabian Vehicles & Trucks Industry (AVI) in King Abdullah Economic City, Jeddah.

In June 2016, AVI celebrated the launch of the first Volvo trucks made on Saudi Arabian soil off the production lines at its assembly facility in KAEC, which is also set up to produce Renault Trucks.

Operating for over 45 years in the eastern region, Al-Osais serves several sectors including energy, construction and transportation, through its subsidiaries, the Al Osais Contracting Company and Al-Osais Transportation & Road Construction Company.