BIG AUSSIE Swede
the focus on quality is one of Volvo's major strengths
If there was ever a truck model that reflected the fortunes of its manufacturer, you would be hard pressed to think of a better match than the big cab-over FH series from Volvo.
It is now in its fourth generation and this year will mark 25 years since its Australian introduction. In that time, the FH has gone from strength to strength, much like its designer and builder the now global Swedish company Volvo Trucks.
The company has already celebrated the anniversary in Europe as it was released there, with great fanfare, in 1993. Not only has Volvo released limited-edition FHs and FH16s to mark the occasion, it has been counting the thousands of FHs that have been built all around the world. In September last year, number one million was delivered. If you do some quick math, you will see that is an average of 40,000 FHs built each and every year!
In Australia, FHs roll off the Wacol assembly line at a rate of around six per day – which, by Australian standards, is an impressive number. Volvo has continually improved the plant, having invested more than $27 million in the production facility in the recent years, with future plans for improvements to chassis treatment and cab paint process.
All Mack trucks and most Volvos sold in Australia come off the Wacol line, making it one of the largest vehicle assembly plants in the country. With such a major facility, the FH range is built with world-class quality.
In Europe, the FH is the only model to be named Truck of the Year three times
