Scania planning vehicle production in Iraq

Scania planning vehicle production in Iraq

Scania has signed an agreement in principle with the government of Iraq on
assembly of trucks and buses in that country. The contract includes an initial
delivery of 500 vehicles, with production starting during the third quarter of
2009. Operations will take place under the aegis of Iraq's State Company for
Automotive Industry. 


Infrastructure investments and job creation are important elements of the
rehabilitation of Iraq. Scania has been offered the opportunity to resume
operations in the same facility that it previously used for assembly of trucks.
The factory is located in Iskandariyah outside Baghdad.

“Scania has the necessary qualifications to satisfy the Iraqi government's
desire to begin local production quickly. Assembly of the 500 trucks initially
ordered is expected to employ about 500 people. The facility will be designed
for the production of 3,000 vehicles per year,” says Klas Dahlberg, Vice
President in charge of Scania's sales in the Middle East.

A memorandum of understanding signed by the two sides specifies that Scania, in
collaboration with its Iraqi distributor, will assume responsibility for
installation of production equipment as well as employee training. Operations
may eventually be expanded to include production of complete vehicles, such as
tipper trucks, and bodyworking of buses and coaches. 

“In collaboration with our Iraqi distributor, we will also invest in the
establishment of a service network in the country. Even today, there is a great
need for workshops to take care of vehicles that operate in international
traffic to Iraq,” Mr Dahlberg says. 

In the early 1980s, Iraq was one of Scania's largest markets. In 1981, the
Iskandariyah factory assembled 3,900 trucks. Many of the trucks produced there
during the 1980s are still in service.

The contract between Scania and the Iraqi government's Ministry of Industry &
Minerals was signed during Swedish Trade Minister Ewa Björling's visit to
Baghdad, accompanied by a delegation of Swedish exporting companies, which ends
on November 19.

For further information please contact Klas Dahlberg, Vice President, tel +46 70
343 95 50, or Hans-Åke Danielsson, Press Manager, tel. +46 8 553 856 62.


Scania is one of the world's leading manufacturers of trucks and buses for heavy
transport applications, and of industrial and marine engines. A growing
proportion of the company's operations consists of products and services in the
financial and service sectors, assuring Scania customers of cost-effective
transport solutions and maximum uptime. Employing 35,000 people, Scania operates
in about 100 countries. Research and development activities are concentrated in
Sweden, while production takes place in Europe and South America, with
facilities for global interchange of both components and complete vehicles. In
2007, invoiced sales totalled SEK 84.5 billion and net income amounted to SEK
8.6 billion. 

Scania press releases are available on the Internet at www.scania.com