Volgren

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Volgren is an Australian bus and coach body manufacturer.

History

Volgren was formed in 1977 by Melbourne bus operator Grenda Corporation in Dandenong, Victoria.<ref>Victorian Government Manufacturing Hall of Fame Volgren Australia Pty Ltd – 2006 Inductee Template:Webarchive Greater Dandenong</ref> Because Grenda held the Volvo Buses dealership in Victoria, only chassis from this manufacturer were bodied until 1989 when the dealership was relinquished.<ref>"Industry News" Australian Bus Panorama 4/6 May 1989 page 5</ref>

The name is a portmanteau of the two original investors, Volvo and Grenda.

In 1981, a plant was established in Acacia Ridge, Queensland by Grenda Corporation, Hornibrook Bus Lines's Geoff Mountjoy, Greyhound Northern and Stateliner. It bodied some Volvo B59 and B10Rs for Hornibrook Bus Lines and Surfside Buslines before concentrating on Twin and Double Deck Volvo B10M coaches.<ref>Geoff Mountjoy Template:Webarchive National Road Transport Hall of Fame</ref><ref>Volgren Queensland (Acacia Ridge) Production Volvodemort</ref> This closed in the late 1980s.

In December 2011, Brazilian bus manufacturer Marcopolo acquired a 75% shareholding.<ref>Volgren Press Release Template:Webarchive Volgren 13 December 2011</ref> In April 2014 this was increased to 100%.<ref>Marcopolo acquires remaining stake in Volgren Australasia Bus & Coach 7 April 2017</ref>

Manufacturing facilities

Current factories:

• Dandenong, Victoria (VG) completed Volgren's first bus in October 1979<ref>Grenda Corporation – Heritage Fleet Template:Webarchive Bus Australia Fleet Lists</ref>
• Malaga, Western Australia (VP) opened in April 1999 to fulfill a contract to body Mercedes-Benz O405NHs for Transperth<ref>"Volgren, Malaga" Fleetline May 1999 page 76</ref><ref>Volgren Australia's bus assembly plant opens at Malaga Template:Webarchive Government of Western Australia 21 April 1999</ref>
• Eagle Farm, Queensland (VQ) opened in February 2010<ref>First bus rolls off Brisbane production line Template:Webarchive Volgren 3 February 2010</ref>

Former factories:

• Tomago, New South Wales (VT) opened in March 2010, closed July 2012<ref>Job creating bus building factory opens Template:Webarchive Volgren 15 March 2010</ref><ref>Volgren stops bus production at Tomago ABC News 23 July 2012</ref>

Products

City Buses

• Optimus
• CR228L
• CR227L
• CR226L
• CR225L
• CR224L
• CR223L
• CR222L
• CR221L

Coaches

• Endura
• SC222
• SC221

Operators

Volgren have bodied a number of buses for Asian and Australian operators:

Australia

• ComfortDelGro Australia
• Transdev Australasia
• Ventura Bus Lines
• Transperth
• Kinetic Group

Asia

• Hong Kong
  • Kowloon Motor Bus formerly operated 1 Volvo B9TL, 17 MAN 24.310 HOCLNR-NLs and 21 Volvo Super Olympians.
  • Citybus formerly operated 1 MAN 24.350 HOCLNR-NL and 1 Scania K94UB
• Singapore
  • SBS Transit formerly operated 50 Volvo Super Olympians, a diesel powered Volvo B10BLE, a Scania L94UB, a Volvo Super Olympian prototype, a Mercedes-Benz O405G prototype, a Volvo B5RLEH and 12 CNG-powered Volvo B10BLEs.
  • SMRT Buses formerly operated 15 Mercedes-Benz O405s, 11 Hino HS3KRKKs and a HS3KRKA, 2 Dennis Lances and 21 Mercedes-Benz O405Gs.
• Malaysia, a substantial number of buses were fitted with the Volgren bodywork as well. Examples can be found in the capital Kuala Lumpur, Shah Alam and Johor Bahru, state capital of Johor.Template:Citation needed
• Japan
  • Nishi-Nippon Railroad bus, Toei Bus, Niigata Kotsu and Nara Kotsu currently operates Scania K360UA6×2/2LB with Optimus body. The body of these buses is 5 centimeters narrower than normal ones.

Gallery

• Volvo B10BLE SBS Transit SBS2998J.jpg

  SBS Transit CNG powered Volvo B10BLE with Volgren CR222L bodywork

• [email protected]

  Kowloon Motor Bus MAN 24.310 with Volgren CR223LD bodywork

• Volgren Toei.jpg

  Toei Bus Scania N280UB with Volgren Optimus bodywork

• CDC Volvo B7RLE CR228L.jpg

  CDC Melbourne Volvo B7RLE with Volgren CR228L bodywork

• B7L CR221L.jpg

  CDC Melbourne Volvo B7L with Volgren CR221L bodywork

• Brisbane Transport Volgren CR224L bodied Scania L94UB CNG.jpg

  Brisbane Transport Scania L94UB CNG with Volgren CR224L bodywork

External links

• Template:Commons category-inline
• Bus Australia gallery