Volvo launched the special edition of Volvo Ocean Race signature series at the Race village in Kochi on Thursday. It launched the Volvo B9R 9400 special edition bus in connection with the Race. It plans to launch 80-100 buses in this series in the next year. It also plans to launch 425 Volvo buses by the year end out of which 40 buses are multi-axle series. The company has ambitious targets, also for its higher end buses.

“The company is planning to sell 450 buses in 2009. Out of these, 80-100 buses will be in the multi-axle series,’’ said Akash Passeey, managing director of Volvo Buses India Private Limited.The special edition buses in connection with the Race are priced at Rs. 85 lakh each. The company is also giving training to nearly 8000 drivers to handle these buses.

Volvo also plans to sell 25 special edition SUVs launched by the company in connection with the Ocean Race. The company Managing Director, Paul de Voijs, stated that the company will bring 25 limited edition cars in India as its aims to build the brand in the country. "We have to establish the brand, which was launched in the country hardly a year ago," he said.