GOTEBORG, Sweden, July 07, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) has sold its compact motor grader business to Champion LLC, Charlotte, North Carolina, a company organized by Gary Abernathy, manager of the Volvo compact motor grader product line since 1997. Abernathy became of manager of the business in 1993 under its previous owner, Champion Road Machinery, Ltd., which was acquired by Volvo CE in 1997.
The acquisition by Champion LLC of the Volvo CE compact motor grader product line, which consists of the Volvo G60, Volvo G66, Volvo G80, andVolvo G86, is effective July 1, 2004. The products will be marketed bythe new company under the "Champion" brand as models C60, C66, C80, andC86. Champion LLC will manufacture the line of compact graders at thepresent production facilities in Charlotte.
The compact motor grader product line is well established in the NorthAmerica market -- sales in 2003 were nearly $4.5 million -- and all VolvoCE dealers will have the opportunity to retain the distribution rightsto the equipment from Champion. Volvo CE will continue to support allVolvo-branded compact motor graders in accordance with the Volvo CEwarranty policy, and the current parts ordering process managed by thecompact motor grader facility in Charlotte will remain in effect.
Volvo CE Sells Compact Motor Grader Line
Champion LLC will be responsible for parts and customer support forVolvo compact motor graders that are out of warranty. Compact motorgraders built by the Charlotte production facility after July 1, 2004,will carry the Champion brand.
This sale of the compact motor grader product line will have no effecton the manufacture and marketing of the G700B Series motor graderproduct range that is manufactured by Volvo Motor Graders in Goderich,Canada.
7 July 2004 For further information, please contact Klas Magnusson Corporate Communications Volvo Construction Equipment HQR tel: + 32 2482 5065 e.mail: klas.magnusson@volvo.com
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