The first customer trials for UD city bus was flagged off today in Bengaluru. The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) will operate this bus on key routes over the next two months. The buses were flagged off at a ceremony by Shri. Ramalinga Reddy, Hon’ble Transport Minister, Government of Karnataka and Dr. Ekroop Caur, Managing Director, BMTC, along with senior members of the transport corporation. Akash Passey, Senior Vice President – Business Region International, Volvo Bus Corporation, and Suresh Chettiar, Vice President and Head – Commercial, Volvo Buses India were also present on this occasion.

The start of the first customer trials is a significant milestone in the introduction of UD Buses in India. In 2014, Volvo Group unveiled the UD Buses brand as part of its strategy to foray into the value segment in growth markets. India is now the first market where UD Buses is being introduced.

The UD SLF is a semi low-floor city bus that will create the benchmark in the value segment with features that impart the best performance with focus to excel on essentials such as fuel efficiency, reliability and optimized uptime.

Akash Passey said, “The start of the trials is a momentous occasion for UD Buses. The UD SLF city bus exemplifies the aspirations of passengers and drivers who clearly demand better commute experience. With several features that are first in the value segment, stakeholders will be able to realise better benefits. I am confident that UD Buses will further enhance the bus-based public transport system and motivate more cities to adopt this product.

“BMTC has always taken the lead in adopting the best solutions for urban mobility. They were the first to induct Volvo city bus in India – a trend that has now spread to about 30 locations in the country with 1500 buses plying. With the trials of the UD SLF, we are hopeful that another movement will happen in the due course wherein other locations will also adopt this mobility solution. We would like to thank BMTC and the Transport Department, Government of Karnataka for motivating us to develop new mobility solutions that will be offered under UD Buses. We will continue to work as partners with all stakeholders to bring the latest public transport solutions to India,” he added.

Bengaluru has been home for Volvo Group in India since 1998. With the support of the state government and various authorities, this city has become a shining example for bus-based public transport system in India.

UD Buses is one of the brands in the Volvo Group and originates from Japan. It is from a vision of the founder, Kenzo Adachi that there should be vehicles that will never let you down. In 1939 he spent endless days and nights working out what such a vehicle should be like. His sole, intense focus was ultimate dependability. UD was born.

‘Going the Extra Mile’ is essence that typifies UD. The brand promise of ‘Smarter Value. Smarter Mobility’ is based on the dependability and reliability of our products. The emphasis is on providing smarter solutions for modernizing societies with technology that is proven to ensure dependability.