VOLVO

NEW VOLVO BIARTICULATES ALREADY ROLL IN BRAZIL

After a few years without new buses, Curitiba, in Paraná, begins the renewal of the city's fleet in 2018. The first major delivery will be 25 Volvo vehicles, a brand chosen by the companies that operate the collective transportation of the city of Paraná. "Volvo is a specialist in organized mass transit systems. We are proud to have the best technology, which brings more comfort to passengers and drivers, lower operation cost and greater reliability. We have been working in this area for the past 30 years. This is not built overnight, "says Fabiano Todeschini, president of Volvo Buses Latin America. The new buses will start being produced earlier this year. 100% of the financing to the companies that made the acquisition was made possible through Volvo Financial Services, the brand's financial arm.Volvo buses have a prominent presence in Curitiba's transportation system. The biarticulate was invented by the automaker specifically to meet a demand from the city in the 1990s. Since then, Volvo has specialized in this type of vehicle, gaining absolute leadership in this market with a unique central engine technology that brings superior capacity and comfort. In Latin America, the brand's current bi-articulated fleet is around 700 vehicles, representing a 99.9% share of the segment. In Curitiba there are 155 bi-articulated Volvo currently in operation.

New generation of vehicles
The new bi-articulates of Curitiba are of the B340M Gran Artic model, the last generation of vehicles of the brand, with advanced technologies of security and comfort. "The engine, the dynamic driving behavior and the embedded electronics are much better in this new version. Passengers and drivers will feel the difference. "Says Gilberto Vardânega, Volvo's commercial director of buses in Brazil. With 28 meters of length, the new buses of Curitiba carry 270 passengers. The assembler still has a version with 30 meters and capacity of 300 passengers.

Volvo bi-articulates have a central engine positioned below the floor. It is the best solution to combine high passenger capacity, acoustic and thermal comfort. "Our vehicles allow us to take full advantage of the internal space to carry more people. In addition, with the central engine the driver is not exposed directly to noise and heat, which are a problem in vehicles with large engine like bi-articulated. The central engine is a configuration that only Volvo has and that has allowed us to win the trust of all the markets that operate bi-articulated in Latin America and in other continents, "says Todeschini. Currently, the bi-articulates of the brand circulate in cities such as São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Goiânia, Bogotá, Guatemala City, Quito, and Curitiba itself. This type of vehicle also runs in several countries outside Latin America.With Volvo articulated and bi-articulated buses, Curitiba's transportation system became a world reference. Named internationally by BRT - Bus Rapid Transit - the model has inspired many other cities as a viable alternative to urban mobility, especially in developing countries. At present, the BRTs of Bogotá, Cali, Rio de Janeiro, Curitiba and Goiânia stand out in Latin America. All operate Volvo-branded vehicles.

New Bodyworks
In addition to the benefits of Volvo chassis, Curitiba's bi-articulated vehicles will have new external body design and improvements in interior space, lighting, doors and more

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