Feature this villain in Transformers 4 - IAB checks out the Volvo FM480 10X4 Dump Truck

12/10/2012 - 17:53 Commercial Vehicles, Volvo Nithyanandh K

The Volvo-Eicher joint venture has launched a new dump truck called the FM480 10x4 today in Bengaluru at a price of 1.08 crores (ex-showroom). We were there to check out the truck's features and here's all the details.

The new multi-axle truck is the largest mining truck Volvo has ever introduced in India. The latest offering from the Swedish truck maker is aimed at dethroning the Mercedes-Benz Actros range of dump trucks that enjoy a strong demand in the mining industry.

The company claims the truck has best in class torque, struck volume, power-to-weight ratio, torque to weight ratio, and payload to kerb weight ratio.

Features of the Volvo FM480 10x4 Dump truck

Volvo FW 480 10x4 Dump truck has a 43 ton payload capacity marketed with the tagline 'do more with less'
India's first 10X4 off-highway dump truck for mining application
24 cubic meter struck volume rock body
Powered by a 13 liter Volvo D1 3A480 engine that generates 480 hp and 2,400 Nm of torque
Generates 7.38 hp per ton; Euro 3 Compliant
Mated to a VT2514 14-speed range & splitter gearbox with Crawler gear ratio 16:4:1
Innovative 5-axle configuration with steerable 3 front axles
32 tonnes capacity rear tandem axle
High rear ratio of 7:21:1
Air suspension for the 3rd axle
Additional parking brake on the rear axle for stopping on steep slopes
Air suspended pusher axle with electronically controlled suspension for optimized load distribution
Electronically controlled hydraulic steering
Extra strong chassis for coping with tough conditions
GVW - 59,000 kg
Larger foot print for superior stability

Benefits of the Volvo FM480 10x4 Dump truck

Higher average speed
Faster turn around
Increased productivity
Good fuel economy
Reduced fleet size
Lower operating costs
Better profitability

Pointers from the Volvo press conference

3,000 people work for Volvo India's commercial vehicle division. 1,000 of them are employed in the R&D facility
7,500 trucks from Volvo are plying Indian roads
4% market share in HCV segment
Volvo enjoys 70% premium European truck market share
Volvo bus market share in India is 4%
Competitor of this truck will be Mercedes Actros
The FM480 10X4 Dump Truck is priced at 108 lakhs. The target is to sell 150 trucks by 2013
Not a replacement to a 8X4 variant, the 10x4 do 28% more work than a 8X4
Volvo trucks have been in India for 15 years now
There are 128 on-site service centers across the country
Production will start in November, and delivery will shortly thereafter
35 examples of this truck have already been sold
The company plans to setup its own bus body building plant in India
Its ready with Euro 6 engines and is in the process of setting up an engine plant as well
Engines will be exported from India and there are plans to sell it to Eicher