Volvo Buses India today delivered five Volvo 9400XL multi-axle coaches with new features to the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC). These coaches offer various new amenities like pantry and chemical toilet.
Shri. Chhagan Bhujbal, Hon’ble Minister of Tourism, Government of Maharashtra along with Dr. Jagdish Patil, Managing Director, MTDC were present at a the flag off ceremony in Mumbai.
Akash Passey, Senior Vice President – Business Region International, Volvo Bus Corporation and Chairman of the Board, Volvo Buses in India said, “Volvo Buses has been at the forefront of driving change in the Indian bus industry. Our understanding of the customer and passenger needs has resulted in our products being adapted to suit specific requirements. The Volvo 9400XL has proved to be an efficient transport solution to our customers and this is reflected in the fact that it is the bestselling product from Volvo Buses in India. With the new features in these buses being delivered to MTDC today, we are confident that passengers experience on routes such as in the Konkan region will be significantly enhanced. They will be able to experience luxury, comfort and safety in a bus like never before.”
The toilet is a fresh-water flushing system that has been developed keeping in mind the demands of a commercial coach environment. The design focuses on a long-term reliability, powerful flushing action and easy access for service purposes. The pantry unit comprises a microwave oven, coffee maker, refrigerator and store space to offer on-board service for passengers.
MTDC has included additional features such as WiFi, LCD TV and GPS tracking systems for safety in these five Volvo 9400XL coaches. All these features are aimed further enhancing the experience for passengers.
The Volvo 9400XL is the first multi-axle bus for India and also brought with it first-time features like Electronic Suspension, Electronic Brakes, more sophisticated multiplexing and a range of other safety and performance features. It also raised the engine power to 340HP. Such was the customer response to the Volvo 9400XL that by the end of 2009, it became the country’s bestselling coach. The reasons were not merely about a new product and image & attractiveness for the passenger – the Volvo 9400XL offered about 20% extra occupancy/revenue and at the same time provided even better fuel efficiency per passenger km.