MEXICO
Developed for the European market, Volvo is to move the production of its 9700 coach to Mexico after the collapse of a previously-agreed deal with Sunsundegui to manufacture the model and its 9900 sibling under licence at its plant in Spain following the closure of the Swedish manufacturer’s Polish factory. The change means that the model for the European market will continue to be produced in-house by Volvo at its plant in Tultitlán. It had previously been manufactured alongside Volvo’s single-deck bus range at its facility in Wrocław, where the manufacturer ceased producing its own bodywork in spring 2024, entering into third party production agreements to ensure the continuation of its body range, including with MCV, although the 9700DD would continue to be built by Finnish company Carrus Delta.
The information on Volvo’s change of plan was revealed by Hungarian online trade magazine Magyarbusz.info in December. Volvo Buses said that since it could not find a suitable partner to continue production in Europe, it changed strategy and decided to move production to Mexico, where Volvo’s factory in Tultitlán has been building vehicles for over 25 years. The factory also produces the similar-looking 9800 model, which is also of similar construction but built to the South American maximum width of 2.6m. The first Mexican-made Volvo 9700s are planned to be delivered to continental Europe and the United Kingdom in 2026.
According to the information received by Magyarbusz.info, Volvo has not specifically addressed the future of the higher-specification, theatre-floored 9900 model, the flagship of its European range.
