Perfect handling and Volvo Dynamic Steering

Based on the same chassis platform as the new Volvo FH, the new Volvo FM offers handling characteristics above the ordinary. And with the groundbreaking Volvo Dynamic Steering you’ll enjoy effortless control at low speeds and perfect stability at high speeds. Furthermore, the responsive engines and I-Shift make for outstanding driveability.

Whatever you want it to be

Based on the same chassis platform as the new Volvo FH, the new Volvo FM offers handling characteristics above the ordinary. And with the groundbreaking Volvo Dynamic Steering, you’ll enjoy effortless control at low speeds and perfect stability at high speeds. Furthermore, the responsive engines and I-Shift make for outstanding driveability.

Modern technology at your fingertips

The new Volvo FM is designed to make the driver’s job easier and more comfortable. The dashboard features a new instrument cluster and a new, high-end secondary information display, with all controls within easy reach. The wireless Work Remote allows for easy load handling. And if you want to check on your truck before you arrive – download the My Truck app.

A safer workplace than ever

Inside a Volvo FM cab, you’re well protected. The new cabs have been developed for maximum strength, and have been rigorously crash-tested. The driving position adds to this, by offering great ergonomics and perfect visibility. The risk of an accident is further reduced, thanks to the improved headlights, with optional dynamic headlights, and several smart active-safety systems.

Quality award to the technology behind the Van Damme stunt

The advanced Volvo Dynamic Steering system made it possible for Jean-Claude Van Damme to carry out the daring stunt shown in Volvo Trucks’ resounding YouTube success. Now the new technology has received the Quality Innovation of the Year 2013 award. This prize is awarded every year by SIQ, the Swedish Institute for Quality, and the aim is to stimulate the development of high-quality innovations.

Volvo FH wins International Truck of the Year 2014

"Volvo Trucks has delivered a completely new heavy-duty truck, which, with its innovative cab, hi-tech driveline components and advanced maintenance solutions, sets a new benchmark in the automotive industry," said Truck of the year Chairman Gianenrico Griffini when handing out the International Truck of the Year 2014 award to the new Volvo FH.

The If product design awards recognise outstanding design achievement and have been doing so for more than 60 years. Only the very best designs in 17 categories were selected by the international jury. The new Volvo FH was awarded the prize in category 1: transportation design and special vehicles. The evaluation criteria included design quality, degree of innovation, environmental impact, functionality and safety. Professor Fritz Frenkler, the chairman of the jury, said that he was impressed by the consistently high quality of the entries, the passion for innovation and the courage manufacturers showed in pursuing their own design approaches.

"This award represents several years of hard work and it is a tribute to the creativity and innovative spirit we have at Volvo Trucks," says Rikard Orell, design director at Volvo Trucks.

Design identity

With fuel-saving technology, efficient ergonomics, superior handling and passive and active safety features, the new Volvo FH has been built to set new standards in the trucking industry while embodying the Volvo heritage. "When creating the new Volvo FH, a great deal of emphasis was placed on the design and emotional aspect of the truck - something that isn't usually given a high priority in commercial vehicle design," continues Rikard. "This has resulted in a truck that is both an emotionally and practically satisfying vehicle to work and rest in."

Around 2000 guests from the world of international design, media, business and politics are expected to celebrate the If award winners today in Munich, Germany. The ECR88D compact excavator from Volvo Construction Equipment also won an If product design award, making this a double success for the Volvo Group.

Best Telematics Solutions for Commercial Vehicles

Our Remote Diagnostics, which handles proactive diagnostics and repair planning, was awarded the Best Telematics prize by the 10th annual Telematics Update Awards in Detroit.

The red dot product design awards for 2013 honour outstanding industrial design and celebrate the team behind the concept. The red dot product design award is global and presented for excellent design quality. Only the very best innovative works, in 19 categories, managed to convince the international jury - and this year 4,662 products were entered by manufacturers, designers and architects from 54 countries worldwide. The new Volvo FH was awarded the prestigious prize in category 16: automotive and transportation.

"We are extremely proud to win such a highly respected award from one of the largest, most distinguished design competitions in the world," says Rikard Orell, Design Director at Volvo Trucks. "This award symbolizes several years of hard work and it is a tribute to the creativity and innovative spirit we have at Volvo Trucks. A great deal of emphasis was placed on the design and emotional aspect of the new FH - something that isn't usually given high priority in commercial vehicle design. It is fantastic that the red dot jury has recognized our efforts and we are thrilled to receive this globally-recognized mark of industrial design quality."

Setting new standards

The new Volvo FH is designed with the driver in focus. With fuel-saving technology, efficient ergonomics, superior handling, and passive and active safety features, it has been designed to set new standards in the trucking industry while capturing the Volvo heritage.

"When we started designing the new FH we invested a lot of effort in creating a cohesive entity, and achieving this is what I'm most proud of," says Rikard Orell. "There is no conflict between design and function - instead the two work together in perfect harmony. The new FH delivers a functional and dynamic design which provides truck drivers with the best workplace in the industry."

Outstanding design quality

"Strong design competence and economic success nowadays go hand in hand," says Professor Dr. Peter Zec, the initiator and CEO of the red dot. "The winners of the ‘red dot award: product design 2013' are the protagonists of a highly developed design culture and design industry. These days it is becoming more and more difficult to distinguish between well-designed products. It is often only in the details that the special qualities become apparent. However, those product creations that pass the test before the critical eyes of the international red dot jury will not disappear into the crowd and will be able to fend off global competition."

More than 1,000 guests from the world of design, industry, politics and media will celebrate the red dot award winners in Germany on July 1^st at Essen's opera house, the Aalto Theatre. The new Volvo FH will be represented at a four-week special exhibition in the red dot design museum, together with the other prize-winning products from July 2^nd - 28^th 2013. After this, the winning entries will be integrated into the permanent exhibition at the museum and displayed there for at least one year. The museum is located at the world heritage site of the Zeche Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex in Essen and houses the largest permanent exhibition of contemporary design worldwide.

Volvo Trucks’ XE13 powertrain package was the North American trucking industry’s most significant technical innovation of 2011.

Ballots have been cast and the verdict is in. Volvo Trucks’ XE13 powertrain package was the North American trucking industry’s most significant technical innovation of 2011. The Truck Writers of North America (TWNA) presented Volvo Trucks with the 21^st annual TWNA Technical Achievement Award today during an award ceremony at the Technology Maintenance Council’s spring meeting in Tampa, Florida.

“It’s an incredible honor to be recognized by the Truck Writers of North America,” said Ron Huibers, president, Volvo Trucks North American sales & marketing. “We truly appreciate their thorough evaluations of our XE13 package, a proprietary solution that provides just a glimpse at the future potential of Volvo Trucks’ integrated powertrain.”

First introduced in September 2011, Volvo Trucks’ XE13 powertrain package boosts fuel efficiency by about three percent by lowering engine rpm at a given vehicle speed, a concept Volvo calls “downspeeding.”

“The benefits of “downspeeding” an engine are intuitive – lower engine rpm results in less fuel consumed – but virtually impossible to achieve without a perfectly harmonized powertrain.” said Ed Saxman, Volvo Trucks product manager – powertrain. “The intelligence of the Volvo I-Shift and proprietary software used in the XE13 package has created an incredible paradigm shift, so we now see the transmission controlling the engine.”

Available on Volvo VN series tractors, the XE13 powertrain package includes the following components:

• Volvo D13 engine with 425 or 455 horsepower rating and 1750 lb-ft of torque
• Volvo I-Shift overdrive transmission with a 0.78:1 ratio
• Axle ratios of 2.64 to 2.69
• Proprietary software that facilitates seamless communication between Volvo’s integrated powertrain components.

Volvo Trucks’ Remote Diagnostics aftermarket service received the 2012 North American Customer Value Enhancement Award in Commercial Vehicle Repair and Maintenance today from global growth company Frost & Sullivan.

“We’re proud to recognize Volvo Trucks as a leader in customer value enhancement,” said Kumar Saha, industry analyst, Frost & Sullivan. “Their comprehensive fleet diagnostic and maintenance solution takes the uncertainty out of remote diagnostics, thus ensuring that their customers have the correct solution to increase uptime. By effectively conjoining cutting-edge telematics technology and maintenance infrastructure, Volvo Trucks enables fleets to reduce their downtime, enhance their operational efficiencies and maximize their business potential.”

“Receiving this award is quite an honor and a testament to our focus on the entire Volvo ownership experience,” said David Pardue, Volvo Trucks vice president, aftermarket solutions. “Of course, our customers provide the ultimate validation, and we continue to receive excellent feedback about the functionality and value of our Remote Diagnostics aftermarket service.”

Volvo’s Remote Diagnostics, a standard feature on every Volvo-powered VN model highway truck, helps maximize vehicle uptime through proactive diagnostic and repair planning assistance with detailed analysis of critical diagnostic trouble codes. It’s the first service being offered under the new Connected Vehicle Services category of the Volvo Trucks Support Services bundled aftermarket offering.

Click here to view a brief video about Volvo’s Remote Diagnostics.

The remote communication platform facilitates live dealer and customer communication through Volvo Action Service, Volvo’s 24/7 support team. Proactive diagnostics streamline service procedures with confirmation of parts on-hand before a truck arrives at a service location, increasing uptime.

Remote Diagnostics also provides service case communication and documentation among Volvo Action Service, dealers and customers through ASIST, Volvo’s innovative Web-based service management tool, which comes free of charge for two years with the purchase of all new Volvo trucks.

Volvo Trucks delivered the first Remote Diagnostics-equipped trucks in September to Purolator Inc., Canada’s leading integrated freight and parcel solutions provider. The Volvo VNL 300 daycabs featured Volvo D13 engines and I-Shift automated manual transmissions.

Click here to hear what carriers are saying about Volvo’s Remote Diagnostics.

Prior to launching the connected vehicle service, Volvo field-tested Remote Diagnostics with motor carriers in the U.S. and Canada, drawing on the feedback from 15 unique customers operating more than 1,300 Volvo VNs with the service.

Volvo’s Remote Diagnostics was also awarded the 2012 Volvo Group Internal Quality Award for improving the quality of vehicle ownership through active use of connected vehicle data. The annual award spotlights Volvo Group’s focus on quality as a core value.
 
Volvo Trucks North America’s operations and products are guided by the company’s three core values: Quality, Safety and Environmental Care. The Volvo VN, VHD and VAH trucks are assembled in the United States at the New River Valley Plant in Dublin, Virginia, while Volvo engines for North America are assembled in Hagerstown, Maryland. Both plants are certified to ISO14001 environmental and ISO9001 quality standards.

The Volvo Group is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of trucks, buses and construction equipment, and drive systems for marine and industrial applications. The Group also provides complete solutions for financing and service. The Volvo Group, which employs about 115,000 people, has production facilities in 20 countries and sells their products in more than 190 markets. In 2011, annual sales of the Volvo Group amounted to nearly $47.8 billion. The Volvo Group is a publicly-held company headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden. Volvo shares are listed on OMX Nordic Exchange Stockholm. For more information, please visit www.volvogroup.com or www.volvogroup.mobi if you are using your mobile phone.

The analysis was carried out by PR Newswire, a media monitoring company, while gathering news related to sustainability. Based on the results, Revista Imprensa created a list of which companies the media thought were the most sustainable.

According to Carlos Morassutti, Vice President Human Resources and Corporate Affairs at Volvo Latin America, Volvo received favourable responses to its sustainability actions, which are part of the company's strategic planning and long-term efforts.

In Brazil, Volvo has been running programs that include reduction of emissions, energy efficient transport solutions, environmental training, and traffic safety.

Motivated by solutions like the I-See predictive cruise control system and IFS (Individual Front Suspension), the editors of Kamion & Bus awarded the new Volvo FH series for the most important technical innovation in 2012.

"The award is a recognition of Volvo's success in developing our new FH series, with which we have managed to reach a new level of performance in the transport business," says Johan Björnör, Managing Director of the South East Hub*, and adds: "With our new Volvo FH we have set a new standard with the focus on improving the haulage firm's profitability."

The awards ceremony was held in March in Zagreb, Croatia. 

*South East Hub covers following countries: Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia

"The Volvo FH 460 is the leader in its segment and has won over Brazilian carriers for its low fuel consumption and high performance and uptime levels," said Bernardo Fedalto, commercial director of Volvo Trucks in Brazil.

The classic Volvo FH received the award for the fourth consecutive year. In 2012, the prize went to the Volvo FH 460, while the Volvo FH 440 received the award in the three previous years.

All in all, 8,353 Volvo FH trucks were delivered in Brazil in 2012. The total number of Volvo trucks delivered in Latin America in the same year amounted to 19,164 trucks.

The Lotus Award

The Lotus Award is the longest-standing award in the area of commercial transportation in Brazil. The award is promoted by Brazilian magazine Frota&Cia and has been distributed every year for 20 years. The Lotus Award is given in 19 categories.

A year, almost to the day, after its spectacular launch, the new Volvo FH was elected International Truck of the Year 2014 by leading commercial vehicle journalists, representing 25 magazines throughout Europe. The Truck of the Year award was received by Volvo Trucks’ President Claes Nilsson at a ceremony at the Comtrans exhibition in Moscow yesterday evening.

Summing up the jury vote, International Truck of the Year Chairman Gianenrico Griffini commented: "Volvo Trucks has delivered a completely new heavy-duty truck, which, with its innovative cab, hi-tech driveline components and advanced maintenance solutions, sets a new benchmark in the automotive industry."

State-of-the-art premium truck

This is the third time the Volvo FH is elected International Truck of the Year. It also won the award in 1994 and 2000.
"We are honoured and happy. When we introduced the new FH in September 2012,
we claimed that it was pushing the envelope of what a premium truck could offer. The International Truck of the Year award confirms that the Volvo FH lives up to this promise," says Claes Nilsson, President of Volvo Trucks.
The all-new Volvo FH is a truck built with the driver in mind and the focus on improving the haulage firm's profitability. It boasts important innovations in all crucial areas: fuel economy, ergonomics, handling, active and passive safety, and time-saving features.

The new Volvo FH in a nutshell

• The truck is available with a range of 13- and 16-litre engines.
• The I-See technology can save up to five per cent fuel. I-See uses electronically recorded information about the topography of the roads to automatically optimise gear shifting, speed and auxiliary braking.
• The handling is superior thanks to an improved chassis and the option to choose individual front suspension.
• The driving position is better and offers greater flexibility. For instance, the steering wheel now has a neck tilt function, a world-first in the truck world.
• The driver has a better view of the road, not least owing to the increase in the usable window area in the cab and the innovative rear-view mirror design.
• More upright A-pillars add one cubic metre of interior space. This gives 300 litres of on-board extra storage capacity and greater on-board comfort.
• Volvo Trucks offers maximum uptime with the new FH. This promise is based on new technology for remotely monitoring component wear and overall vehicle condition.
  

Boosts profitability for the owner

"The new Volvo FH increases the haulage firm's profitability in many different ways," says Claes Nilsson, concluding: "And giving your drivers the opportunity to work in the International Truck of The Year is of course an extra bonus."

For more information about the new Volvo FH, please go to our Newsroom. The Volvo FH was launched on September 5, 2012.

The advanced Volvo Dynamic Steering has received the coveted Quality Innovation of the Year 2013 award. The prize is awarded every year by SIQ, the Swedish Institute for Quality, and the aim is to stimulate the development of high-quality innovations. 

"Volvo Dynamic Steering is an excellent example of an invention developed to meet both commercial needs and user wishes. The new technology offers the driver better manoeuvrability and an improved working environment," says Associate Professor Matti Kaulio of the Department of Industrial Economics at KTH, the Royal Institute of Technology, who formulated the jury's decision.

In order to win, the innovation must have a clear link to a specific customer requirement. Volvo Dynamic Steering did particularly well in this respect.

"The fact that the innovation is both a response to individual needs and meets commercial requirements is truly exciting. It also somehow succeeds in offering a combination of tried and tested as well as cutting-edge technology to create a better product. Then of course there is the safety aspect, which is part and parcel of Volvo's brand image," says Matti Kaulio. 

"Proof that we are on the right track"

Volvo Trucks is delighted and proud to receive the award, which reinforces the company's long-term aim of improving road safety and the driver's working environment.

"It is very gratifying to receive this award; I had a feeling we might be in the running, so it was great to receive that phone call. It is proof that we are focusing on the right things and it gives us added incentive to continue to develop properties that lead to better quality and a safer driver's environment in our trucks," says Hayder Wokil, Quality Director at Volvo Trucks.

Volvo Dynamic Steering was developed in close cooperation with drivers to better meet their needs.

"Throughout the development process we constantly invite customers to provide feedback. This ties the customers closer to us and involves them in the development of our new products. Volvo Dynamic Steering is a milestone in our focus on driver environment and traffic safety," says Hayder Wokil. 

Volvo Dynamic Steering almost entirely eliminates vibration in the steering wheel. As a result, the driver does not need to keep correcting the steering wheel while driving, thus reducing the risk of aches and pains in the back, neck and shoulders. Since steering the truck is very easy on the body, the driver can relax. He or she does not get tired as quickly and runs less of a risk of an accident.

The new technology also makes it possible to reverse the truck with immense precision, a property that made possible Jean-Claude van Damme's remarkably successful stunt - The Epic Split.

The awards ceremony for the winner of the 2013 Quality Innovation of the Year is being held today at Moderna Museet in Stockholm. The prize is awarded once a year to companies, organisations or individuals whose innovations are systematic in their operation and designed to meet an identified customer need. Behind the award are a number of quality-promoting foundations in Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, the Czech Republic and Hungary.

January 20, 2014

Here's how Volvo Dynamic Steering works

Volvo Dynamic Steering is based on a conventional mechanical steering system in which a steering rod is linked to a steering gear. The hydraulic power steering system generates the power that the driver needs to turn the steering wheel. The Volvo system uses an electronically controlled electric motor attached to the steering rod. The electric motor works together with the hydraulic power steering system and is adjusted thousands of times per second by the electronic control unit. At low road speeds the electric motor provides added power, while at higher road speeds the electric motor automatically regulates the steering to compensate for any unevenness that makes its way up to the steering wheel, for instance as a result of side winds or potholes in the road.

Volvo Trucks' YouTube channel has several films about VDS:

The difference between developing the new Volvo FH series and the Koenigsegg One:1

It took just two years for 15 engineers and a staff of 50, to develop and manufacture six Koenigsegg One:1 megacars. By way of comparison, we decided to find out what it took to create the Volvo FH series.

1. 20,000 employees

To create a world-class truck series, everyone involved must pull in the same direction. Volvo Trucks would never have been able to develop the Volvo FH without its skilled employees, all over the world, who share a burning enthusiasm for the product.

2. 900 drivers

For a lot of drivers, the cab is their working environment for long periods of time when out on the road, so Volvo Trucks figured that they had to be part of the process of developing the Volvo FH. For this reason, 900 drivers were interviewed in order to get a clear view of what was vital to them when it comes to the Volvo FH’s cab.

3. More than 100,000 vehicles

Only six Koenigsegg One:1 vehicles have been manufactured – a little less than the number of Volvo FHs produced. The last year, more than 115,000 Volvo FH trucks were rolled out of the factory and delivered to customers all over the world. Building an entire truck takes just five days. Click here to follow a truck through the production line.

4. Millions of kilometres

When the first prototypes of the truck came off the production line, they were sent all over the world. Before anyone even got the slightest glimpse of the new vehicle, so called ghost trucks (unfinished siblings of the finalised Volvo FH) had been tested and modified over millions of kilometres of test driving in all different types of climates and conditions

5. 100 degrees

That is an approximation of the temperature span for field testing of the Volvo FH. Extreme cold and extreme heat, in some of the toughest conditions in the world, were perfect for the Volvo FH testing team. From the Arctic northern regions of Scandinavia where temperatures can fall to below -45°C, to the Australian outback where mercury sometimes reaches +45°. The trucks have been driven over a two-year test period.

5 cool facts about the I-Shift Dual Clutch gearbox

One of the most overlooked ways to get the power out of the engine and down into the ground is proper gearing. Ask any Koenigsegg driver. That´s one of the reasons why Volvo Trucks developed the automatic I-Shift Dual Clutch gearbox, and then decided to prove its capacity in the race against a Koenigsegg One:1. Here´s 5 facts about the I-Shift Dual Clutch and how it works.

1. Sports car technology

In the middle of the 80s, race car technology was revolutionised by the invention of a new gearbox that could maintain power during gear changes. Shifting no longer disrupted acceleration and ever since race cars and sports cars have retained the technique. Now Volvo FH has introduced the I-Shift Dual Clutch gearbox to heavy-duty trucks, however for a totally different purpose than speed.

2. One gearbox - two clutches

The secret behind the technique is two clutches instead of one. With a dual clutch transmission, the next gear is pre-selected before the change. When the gear change takes place, the idling clutch is engaged at the exact same time as the previously engaged clutch is released. This means that gear shifting is seamless with no interruption in power delivery.

3. Noise reduction

The engineers have worked hard at improving comfort, and one of their missions has been noise reduction. This was carried out in Volvo’s Noise and Vibration lab in Gothenburg during the development of the new Volvo FH.

With the steady flow of gear changes, driving becomes smoother and by extension driver comfort is improved. With a steadier power flow, the noise level is also reduced both inside and outside of the cab.

4. Minimal risk of getting stuck uphill...

I-Shift Dual Clutch is brand new, but it has been well-tested and proven. Because of the smooth and dynamic acceleration without torque interruption – driving uphill on a slippery road surface is simple and the steady flow of power improves traction and drivability.

5. ...And improved control downhill

For the same reasons mentioned above, the I-Shift Dual Clutch gearbox also makes the ride downhill smother too. Through consistent gearing, traction and drivability are conserved and the loss of torque that is a common factor with standard gearboxes does not occur.