Heavy Duty Trucking Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

North America Helps Drive Volvo Profit Higher

The parent to Volvo Trucks North America, Sweden’s Volvo Group, saw its second quarter net income double from a year ago, due in part to increased North American sales.

Evan Lockridge
Evan LockridgeFormer Business Contributing Editor
July 19, 2015
North America Helps Drive Volvo Profit Higher

 

2 min to read


The parent to Volvo Trucks North America, Sweden’s Volvo Group (VOLVY), saw its second quarter net income double from a year ago, due in part to increased North American sales.

It reported a profit of 5.2 billion kronor, equivalent to about $600 million. Revenue increased 17% to 84.8 billion kronor, or about $10 billion (which includes sales of buses, construction and marine equipment as well as trucks).

Ad Loading...

“Our view of the market development for trucks remains largely unchanged,” said Jan Gurander, acting president and CEO. “We are seeing a gradual recovery in Europe and unchanged demand in Asia, apart from the lower level of demand in China. In North America, there is a slowdown from high levels, while there has been a strong decline in the Brazilian market.”

During the quarter, Volvo delivered 55,600 trucks, which is 4% more than in the same period last year, but net orders fell 6% to 49,551 trucks.

“During the first six months of 2015, the strong U.S. economy and increased demand for transport had a positive impact on demand for long-haulage trucks, while demand for trucks involved in the energy sector and in construction had a slower development,” Volvo said in its earning report. “Expectations are that the North American retail market for heavy-duty trucks will peak during 2015 at a level of 310,000 trucks.”

Ad Loading...

According to Volvo, total North American truck orders dropped 19%, with Volvo Truck orders falling 1% and Mack orders down by 50%.

“The declining order intake for Mack is mainly a result of cancellations of some of the large quantities of dealer orders placed in the fourth quarter of 2014, combined with a softening in demand in some of Mack’s core market segments, for example, energy,” the company said. On June 30, it said, Mack’s order book was about twice the size when compared with the same date a year ago,

Despite the rather upbeat news, according to Reuters, Volvo is having problems reaching targets for cutting costs and it expects little growth in the North American trucking market in the coming years.

More information is available on the Volvo Group website.

More Equipment

Four men in suits on the National Mall with giant video screen showing capitol building in the background
Equipmentby Deborah LockridgeJuly 10, 2026

EPA Proposal Could Ease 2027 Truck Costs and Buying Uncertainty

The proposal doesn't change the tougher NOx standard, but it would revise key implementation requirements that manufacturers say have driven up costs and complicated fleet purchasing decisions.

Read More →
Illustration showing Paccar MX engine with sketch illustration of DEF fill tank in background
Equipmentby Deborah LockridgeJuly 7, 2026

Cummins, Paccar Ease DEF Derates After EPA Guidance

Updated diesel engine software gives truck operators more time to address emissions-system issues while staying compliant with EPA emissions standards.

Read More →
250 years of American transportation illustration with the Founding Fathers, steamships, and trucks through the years.
Equipmentby Jack RobertsJuly 2, 2026

America at 250: How the Truck Helped Connect a Continent

America was founded on revolutionary ideas, but it was built by movement. For 250 years, the nation has depended on ever-better ways to move people, products, and prosperity across a vast continent. No machine has carried that mission further — or more faithfully — than the truck.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Mack America 250 Pioneer.
Equipmentby News/Media ReleaseJuly 2, 2026

Mack Unveils America 250 Tribute Truck to Celebrate Nation's Semiquincentennial

Just in time for the Fourth of July! Mack unveils a brand-new patriotic, limited-edition, red, white, and blue truck wrap.

Read More →
thermo king heavy duty trucking
SponsoredJuly 1, 2026

Enhance Fleet Performance with High-Efficiency Auxiliary Power Units

Drive sustainable cost savings while increasing driver comfort during short- and long-haul logistics operations.

Read More →
Photo of truck dealership with pond in foreground
Equipmentby News/Media ReleaseJune 30, 2026

Rush Expands Gulf Coast Peterbilt Network With Louisiana Acquisition

The expanded Rush network gives fleets additional sales, service, leasing and collision repair support across Louisiana's major trucking markets.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Shell Rotella SuperRigs 2026
Equipmentby Jack RobertsJune 29, 2026

Photos: Shell SuperRigs Light Up Bristol Tennessee

Kenny Ziglar II of Rawlins, Wyo., captured Best of Show honors for the second consecutive year with his 2007 Peterbilt 379, nicknamed “Scrapin By,” at the 44th Annual Shell Rotella SuperRigs competition held June 25-27 at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tenn.

Read More →
Waabi-Volvo autonomous VNL truck.
Equipmentby Jack RobertsJune 26, 2026

Waabi, Volvo Claim Breakthrough in Scaling Autonomous Trucking

Waabi says its AI-powered virtual driver successfully transferred to Volvo Autonomous Solutions' Volvo VNL Autonomous platform without retraining or additional data, a milestone the companies say could dramatically accelerate commercialization of autonomous trucks.

Read More →
2026 Mack Pioneer
Equipmentby Jack RobertsJune 25, 2026

Why the Mack Pioneer Signals a New Era in Class 8 Truck Design

After a public-road drive through eastern Pennsylvania, one thing became clear: Mack's new Pioneer isn't simply packed with technology -- it's been engineered around the driver in ways that could redefine long-haul trucking.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Rep. Ryan Mackenzie on Mack Defense order.
EquipmentJune 23, 2026

Mack Defense Secures $47 Million to Continue Military Dump Truck Production

President Trump visited Mack Defense’s Macungie, Pennsylvania, facility on June 23 to tout a $47 million Heavy Dump Truck order.

Read More →