Volvo deliveries down 57 percent worldwide

For the year so far in North America, Volvo Group deliveries total 6,329, down 54 percent compared to 13,773 deliveries through May 2008.

The Trucker Staff

6/15/2009

GOTHENBURG, Sweden — The Volvo Group reported Monday that its worldwide truck deliveries totaled 9,446 in May, a 57 percent fall from the year before. The total, however, was 3 percent better than April’s. For the year, the group’s deliveries come to 50,879, down 55 percent compared to 112,635 through May 2008.

“Total deliveries” are not the same as retail sales; deliveries are the trucks which either were transferred to dealer inventories or delivered directly to customers.

By region, May deliveries were off 64 percent in Europe, with Eastern Europe showing an 84 percent decline compared to 2008. North American deliveries were down 62 percent, and Asian deliveries were down 54 percent. South America showed the least decline in May, off 37 percent.

For the year in North America, deliveries total 6,329, down 54 percent compared to 13,773 deliveries through May 2008.

By nameplate in North America, Mack Trucks delivered 626 units in May, compared to 1,177 in May 2008, a 47 percent decline.

“As anticipated, prevailing economic conditions continue to weigh heavily on the North American market for heavy trucks,” the company said. “Mack has been particularly affected by low industry-wide sales of dump trucks and mixers resulting from the dramatic decline in housing construction.”

Volvo Trucks delivered 398 units in May, compared to 1,574 in May 2008, a 75 percent decline, “which is an effect of the low demand and the temporary peak in deliveries in May 2008 following the stand-still in production earlier that year during the UAW strike,” according to Volvo.

For the year, Volvo Trucks North America has delivered 3,040 units, 57 percent lower than in first five months of 2008. Mack has delivered 2,930 units, 48 percent lower for the period.

Volvo is based in Gothenburg, Sweden. It has North American headquarters in Greensboro, N.C., and plants in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and North Carolina.

Kevin Jones of The Trucker staff can be reached for comment at kevinj@thetrucker.com.

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