Volgren Australia
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryBus manufacturing
Founded1977; 47 years ago (1977)
HeadquartersDandenong
Number of locations
Dandenong
Malaga
Eagle Farm
Key people
Thiago Deiro
(CEO)
Revenue$207.1 million (June 2011)
Number of employees
560 (June 2011)
ParentMarcopolo
Websitewww.volgren.com.au

Volgren is an Australian bus and coach body manufacturer.

History

Volgren was formed in 1977 by Melbourne bus operator Grenda Corporation in Dandenong, Victoria.[1] Because Grenda held the Volvo Buses dealership in Victoria, only chassis from this manufacturer were bodied until 1989 when the dealership was relinquished.[2]

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.[3][4] This closed in the late 1980s.

In December 2011, Brazilian bus manufacturer Marcopolo acquired a 75% shareholding.[5] In April 2014 this was increased to 100%.[6]

Manufacturing facilities

Current factories:

Former factories:

Asian operators

Volgren have bodied a number of buses for Asian operators:

Gallery

References

  1. ^ Victorian Government Manufacturing Hall of Fame Volgren Australia Pty Ltd – 2006 Inductee Archived 4 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine Greater Dandenong
  2. ^ "Industry News" Australian Bus Panorama 4/6 May 1989 page 5
  3. ^ Geoff Mountjoy Archived 20 April 2013 at the Wayback Machine National Road Transport Hall of Fame
  4. ^ Volgren Queensland (Acacia Ridge) Production Volvodemort
  5. ^ Volgren Press Release Archived 27 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine Volgren 13 December 2011
  6. ^ Marcopolo acquires remaining stake in Volgren Australasia Bus & Coach 7 April 2017
  7. ^ Grenda Corporation – Heritage Fleet Archived 17 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine Bus Australia Fleet Lists
  8. ^ "Volgren, Malaga" Fleetline May 1999 page 76
  9. ^ Volgren Australia's bus assembly plant opens at Malaga Archived 5 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine Government of Western Australia 21 April 1999
  10. ^ First bus rolls off Brisbane production line Archived 27 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine Volgren 3 February 2010
  11. ^ Job creating bus building factory opens Archived 27 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine Volgren 15 March 2010
  12. ^ Volgren stops bus production at Tomago ABC News 23 July 2012

External links

Automotive industry in Australia
Australian bus manufacturers
Categories