Mr. Jonas Nilsson, Vice President, Volvo Penta India.

Energy efficiency, productivity, and cost effectiveness have in recent years become the core selling points of any equipment. As Diesel Engine is the prime source of power in Construction and Mining equipment; how is Volvo Penta helping OEMs to achieve the same?
We have been able to develop an engine that burns fuel so effectively that we can manage emissions without a cooled EGR. The EGR is activated only for shorter periods of time depending on load conditions only. Hence, we recirculate a minimum of soot and acids back into the combustion chamber. This makes the engine burn cleanly, ensures total fuel efficiency and increases productivity. Our technical expertise has always enabled us in delivering products with high performance, longer service life, and good durability.

Rather than commercial and business, this commitment is on a completely different level. Make in India is something that is important for the entire world, and it brings a lot of value for the industry. We will begin manufacturing and supplying our MDEP range of engines rated 105 to 235kW in India, close to customers. This will help boost customer confidence in Volvo. The benefits of the engines’ highly efficient fuel injection system include less upkeep and maintenance, as well as better fuel consumption and good low-end response.
We have a wide after-market network and are further strengthening infrastructure in the service touch points. Our regional warehouse in Bangalore has continuously delivered on-time parts support.
Are you planning to enter into a supply association with OEMs? Since every OEM has got its own standards, what will be the level of association you’re looking at to offer the requisite solutions?
We work closely with our OEM customers to make their products more competitive in all the markets they cater to. So we have enabled our OEM customers to compete on the global as well as domestic markets.
How did 2016 pan out for Volvo Penta? What are your growth prospects for 2017 and beyond in India?
This year, we officially launched the MDEP engine. This new line of 5 and 8 liter engines are intended to meet growing demand in the Indian market and are certified for CEV Bharat Stage III emissions standards. They are already in the field, powering a variety of applications including construction, material handling, raw material exploration, forestry and agriculture around the world.
We are continuing to deliver on our plans and 2016 is a very good year for Volvo Penta. Now we are well positioned to accelerate our growth in the years to come.
Tell us about the equipment segments where you see growth for your products in the coming years.
Recently, we launched MDEP viz 5 and 8 liter CRDI engines that are capable of delivering a higher level of fuel efficiency and low maintenance costs. We are looking for construction equipment business segments in India that require faster duty cycles and commensurate higher uptime. This includes compressors, concrete pumps, and material handling equipment, involving rough terrain, all terrain cranes and all other variants of mobile cranes. Volvo Penta has presence in India through the major players in these segments.
This year has seen growth in the CE sector but there is stiff competition in the market. What steps are you taking to strengthen your position?
We are commencing manufacturing and supply of complete solutions of our MDEP engines rated 105 to 235kW from our India facility starting April 2017, which will reduce lead time, and logistic costs.
What do you envision for the year 2020 and what will be your strategy to achieve your goals?
We envisage that the government will implement tighter emission regulations, even more stringent requirements on builders and contractors to complete projects in time and at given cost. This will help the transition to modern fuel-efficient engines such as Volvo Penta’s.