WM New Zealand (WMNZ) and Volvo Trucks New Zealand (Volvo Trucks) have strengthened their partnership and a significant advancement in sustainable logistics with the acquisition of a number of Volvo Electric Trucks.
The milestone was celebrated at a launch event today attended by senior executives from both organisations, including WMNZ’s Managing Director Evan Maehl, Chief Engineering & Development Officer Lawrence James and Head of Fleet Jitesh Singh, alongside Sime Darby’s Managing Director, Andrew Basham and Managing Director for New Zealand and Director of Commercial Vehicles Asia Pacific Pat McKenna, and General Manager of Sime Darby Commercial Sales Michael Doeg.
At the event, WMNZ unveiled its first OEM electric box body truck – a Volvo FE Electric 6x2 aptly named Agnetha, as a tribute to this truck’s Swedish origins. This electric truck will soon begin medical waste collection for WMNZ's Technical Services division.
"Our relationship with Volvo Trucks has evolved into something truly special," says Evan Maehl. "This Volvo Trucks solution allows us to accelerate our fleet electrification plans while maintaining the highest standards of safety and functionality that both our companies are known for."
Rob Woods, General Manager, Motor Truck Distributors (NZ) Ltd (New Zealand distributor of Volvo Trucks) confirms, “Electric transport solutions, like the investment the WMNZ have made, will have a positive and lasting impact on our environment and sustainability practices across our industry.”
He continues, “With a proven track record internationally, the Volvo Electric range has been delivering class leading efficiency, performance and uptime across the world since its launch in 2019 and we are pleased to be able partner with a forward leading organisation like WMNZ to help support their sustainability goals.”
The other trucks being unveiled during this milestone event also include four FL Electric units an FE Electric and an FM Heavy Electric, marking another crucial step forward in the company's fleet electrification strategy.
This milestone demonstrates WMNZ’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality in operations by 2050. The initiative has received crucial support from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), reinforcing its significance to New Zealand's sustainable transport future.
WMNZ recently achieved a significant milestone in sustainable transportation, with its 54-strong electric truck fleet reaching 2 million kilometres travelled.
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