Volvo Buses and Sunsundegui have stopped plans to relocate body manufacture for the Swedish OEM’s B13R-based 9700 single-deck and 9900 coaches to Spain in a decision that leaves both models in limbo for now.
The two businesses say that the planned transfer – which was formalised in late 2023 – has been brought to a halt with immediate effect.
“Despite efforts from both parties, it has been shown to be too complex, and therefore the need for additional investments, including time and resources, is significantly higher than predicted and not viable from a business and profitability perspective,” a Volvo Buses spokesperson says.
Collaboration on existing Sunsundegui products mounted on Volvo chassis – including the SB3, SC5 and SC7 – will continue with no interruption, it has been confirmed.
Volvo announced the transfer to Sunsundegui of 9700 single-deck and 9900 body assembly at the time that it revealed its own body plant in Poland – which had long completed both models – was to close.
Volvo Buses President Anna Westerberg said at the time that a widened partnership with the Alsasua bodybuilder was a key part of changes to the Swedish OEM’s business model in Europe that focused it on chassis manufacture.
Sunsundegui was to expand its factory to accommodate the increased workload of the 9700 single-deck and 9900. It has underlined that the partnership with Volvo remains strong on other models.
“For our company, Volvo continues to be our main customer and partner, and we are both committed to maintaining and strengthening this relationship over the long-term, something we are very pleased about,” Sunsundegui says in a statement.
The Spanish manufacturer adds that it “wants to send a message of confidence to its workforce, investors, suppliers and customers,” adding: “The company has a diversified portfolio of work that allows it to continue to offer its products and services of the highest quality to our customers, as well as to maintain the current workload at a good level.”
No impact will be felt on the 9700 double-decker, which is bodied by Carrus Delta in Finland. The Volvo spokesperson adds that no decision has been made on alternatives for production of the 9700 single-deck and 9900 bodies.
Volvo Bus UK and Ireland moved quickly to confirm that aftermarket support and parts availability for the 9700 single-decker and the 9900 are unaffected by the end of the proposed collaboration with Sunsundegui.
