Volvo 2013 Annual Report Download - page 68

A GLOBAL GROUP 2013 AVSNITT
– UD Trucks, with a proud and long-standing tradition of devel-
oping high quality trucks for the Japanese market, has exported
trucks to markets across Asia, Africa, South America and the
Middle-East for many decades. However, we have never devel-
oped products for customers outside Japan. With Quester, we
are entering a new era by introducing an all-new truck range,
specifi cally designed for growth markets, says Joachim Rosen-
berg, Executive Vice President, Group Trucks Sales & Market-
ing and JVs, APAC.
Tailored for growth markets
Quester will expand UD Trucks’ customer base and contribute
to the Group Trucks’ strategy by improving competitiveness
and capturing growth opportunities in new markets. As a heavy-
duty truck range, Quester provides a platform for a wide range
of applications including mining, construction, distribution and
long-haul transportation.
Being an integral part of the Volvo Group, UD Trucks has
developed Quester by leveraging the Volvo Group’s global
engineering network in combination with its tradition of Japa-
nese craftsmanship. Combined with sourcing and manufac-
turing on the Asian mainland, UD Trucks will now be able to
deliver a modern, affordable vehicle range with superior per-
formance tailored to the cost-conscious growth markets of the
world. To ensure best possible uptime, Quester is supported
by an expanded and upgraded distribution network providing
UD Genuine Service and UD Genuine Parts amongst others.
Robust and strong
Quester’s most obvious competitive advantages are the
robustness and strength of the truck, its fuel effi ciency and the
breadth of the range. The variety of different confi gurations
with easy body mounting will provide customers with tailored,
purpose-built solutions for all types of applications. In addi-
tion, there are new and patented features that will contribute to
the customer’s uptime and safety.
The production of Quester started at low volumes during the
third quarter of 2013 in Bangkok, Thailand with volumes in -
creasing gradually in 2014. Besides serving the domestic Thai
market, the plant in Thailand will also serve as an export hub
for South East Asia and beyond.
On December 10, the new Quester range was launched in
China under the name UD KuTeng. The UD KuTeng series is
in tended to be manufactured and commercialized by DONGVO
TRUCK, which is the new name for Dongfeng Nissan Diesel
Motor Co Ltd (DND) in Hangzhou in Southern China. Later on
the Quester is also intended to be manufactured in India.
FOCUS QUESTER
A GLOBAL GROUP 2013 GROUP PERFORMANCE DEVELOPMENT BY CONTINENT – ASIA
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Volvo Group breaks
new ground with
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Quester
On August 26 2013 UD Trucks launched Quester, a new heavy-duty truck range developed specifi cally for
growth markets. Quester will address new market segments andmarks a milestone for the Volvo Group in
line with the Group’s truck strategy to increasesales by capturing profi table growth opportunities in fast
growing markets across Asia Pacifi c and other parts of the world. Quester offers customers solutions
tailored to their specifi c business needs and supports them in running profi table, growing businesses.
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