BZRT artic and bi-artic chassis will be shipped to bodybuilders across the globe from the Volvo plant in Curitiba, Paraná.

As part of the agreement, Volvo will support GB Auto in upgrading its bus manufacturing facility by providing corporate and technical expertise as well as ongoing guidance with quality control and sustainable sourcing.

The Volvo Group - which includes Renault Trucks, Mack Trucks, Prevost, and Nova Bus - saw a slight decline in its financial results across the board, with its net sales falling by 3% to SEK527bn (approximately EUR46bn) in 2024.

The ‘Volvo 7800 Electric’ is a range of articulated and bi-articulated buses intended for dedicated bus lanes in urban transport networks.

Volvo says the order books are “open” for the UNVI-bodied coach, which is based on the ‘B13R’ chassis produced by Volvo at its factory in Boras, Sweden.

The manufacturer is trialling a new autonomous driving feature, developed in-house, which allows buses to drive into and out of passenger stops independently of the driver.

The bus in question is a battery-electric Volvo, which was handed over to the public transport authority of Perth in Western Australia as part of an order for 18 buses announced last year.

The state government of Western Australia, together with the federal government, is committing AUD125m towards the manufacture of buses on the BZL Electric chassis in Perth.

Optibus and Stoneridge’s software offerings will be made available by Volvo Bus to pilot customers in selected markets this year.

Media reports from 4 July were corroborated by an announcement on Sunsundegui’s website; T&BB reached out to Volvo, which confirmed the reports but provided no further comment.

26 of the ‘9700 DD’ coaches will operate in express traffic in the city of Gothenburg, while the remaining 5 will be put on an intercity route to the town of Borås in Sweden.

Volvo Buses will roll out its active safety systems not only in its Euro VI and electric vehicles but also across its Euro III and V vehicles, intended for markets where such safety features are not legally required.