Volgren is an Australian bus and coach body manufacturer.
History
Volvo Buses was formed in 1977 by
Melbourne bus operator Grenda Corporation in Dandenong, Victoria.
[ Victorian Government Manufacturing Hall of Fame Volgren Australia Pty Ltd – 2006 Inductee Greater Dandenong] Because Grenda held the
Volvo Buses dealership in Victoria, only chassis from this manufacturer were bodied until 1989 when the dealership was relinquished.
["Industry News" Australian Bus Panorama 4/6 May 1989 page 5]
The name is a portmanteau of the two original investors, Volvo Buses 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.[ Geoff Mountjoy National Road Transport Hall of Fame][ Volgren Queensland (Acacia Ridge) Production Volvodemort] This closed in the late 1980s.
In December 2011, Brazilian bus manufacturer Marcopolo acquired a 75% shareholding.[ Volgren Press Release Volgren 13 December 2011] In April 2014 this was increased to 100%.[ Marcopolo acquires remaining stake in Volgren Australasia Bus & Coach 7 April 2017]
Manufacturing facilities
Current factories:
Former factories:
Products
City Buses
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Optimus
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CR228L
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CR227L
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CR226L
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CR225L
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CR224L
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CR223L
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CR222L
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CR221L
Coaches
Operators
Volgren have bodied a number of buses for Asian and Australian operators:
Australia
Asia
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Hong Kong
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Kowloon Motor Bus formerly operated 1 Volvo B9TL, 17 MAN 24.310 HOCLNR-NLs and 21 Volvo Super Olympians.
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Citybus formerly operated 1 MAN 24.350 HOCLNR-NL and 1 Scania K94UB
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Singapore
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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.
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SMRT Buses formerly operated 15 Mercedes-Benz O405s, 11 Hino Motors HS3KRKKs and a HS3KRKA, 2 and 21 Mercedes-Benz O405Gs.
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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.
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Japan
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Nishi-Nippon Railroad bus, Toei Bus, Niigata Kotsu and Nara Kotsu currently operates Scania AB K360UA6×2/2LB with Optimus body. The body of these buses is 5 centimeters narrower than normal ones.
Gallery
File:Volvo B10BLE SBS Transit SBS2998J.jpg|SBS Transit CNG powered Volvo B10BLE with Volgren CR222L bodywork
File:KR6560@58X.jpg|Kowloon Motor Bus MAN 24.310 with Volgren CR223LD bodywork
File:Volgren Toei.jpg|Toei Bus Scania N280UB with Volgren Optimus bodywork
File:CDC Volvo B7RLE CR228L.jpg|CDC Melbourne Volvo B7RLE with Volgren CR228L bodywork
File:B7L CR221L.jpg|CDC Melbourne Volvo B7L with Volgren CR221L bodywork
File:Brisbane Transport Volgren CR224L bodied Scania L94UB CNG.jpg|Brisbane Transport Scania L94UB CNG with Volgren CR224L bodywork
File:Volgren bodied bus operated by Cooma Coaches.jpg|a Cooma coaches Volvo B7RLE with a Volgren CR228L bodywork
External links
