Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority has inked a deal with Al Futtaim Auto and Machinery Company (Famco), a top provider of products and services to a diverse range of industries, to supply 143 Volvo luxury intercity coaches over the next two years.

Famco said the order for 143 Volvo SC5 luxury intercity coaches is not only its biggest deal with the RTA to date, but also the single largest purchase of intercity coaches by any transport authority in UAE.
 
Volvo’s B11R is the first bus in the Middle East to meet the strict Euro 6 standards of fuel efficiency and emissions; thus aiding the successful signing of the deal which was evaluated against the RTA’s rigorous 10-year total cost of ownership requirements, including fuel and operational costs.

Commenting on the new signing, Akash Passey, the senior VP for Volvo Buses Region International, said: "Being the first bus manufacturer to introduce Euro 6-standards to the Middle East has enabled us to deliver the most fuel efficient, cost effective and environmentally conscious public transport solution, helping the RTA to continue to lead the way in safety and sustainability."

"These buses mark the beginning of a new breed of modern buses focused on delivering clean, safe and efficient public transport," he noted.

Nigel Johnson, the senior managing director for Famco UAE, said: "The Volvo coaches will be operating not only in Dubai, but across the entire UAE, bringing people closer and uniting communities, and we’re proud to be a part of the RTA’s goal to increase the community’s mobility via public transport by as much as 30 per cent by 2030."

Volvo’s 11-litre 430hp Euro 6 engine adheres to not only the most stringent level of emission requirements for diesel engines the world over, but also delivers uncompromised power and performance, explained Johnson.

"Combined with a suite of smart fuel-saving services like the Volvo I-Shift gearbox, advanced engine management system and I-Coaching; a real-time device which offers the driver continuous on-the-job training with instant feedback on their acceleration, braking, cornering and over-revving, it ensures a safer and more fuel-efficient journey," he added.-TradeArabia News Service