Volvo Construction Equipment recently announced that it would phase out the production of articulated haulers at its plant in Asheville in the United States and concentrate the manufacturing to its plants in Braas, Sweden and Pederneiras, Brazil. At the same time the head office of Volvo Articulated Haulers would be relocated from Vaxjo to Braas, Volvo said. The arrangements were said to affect some 90 employees in the United States and 70 employees and 30 consultants in Sweden.

"The total market of articulated haulers has not developed as we have expected. This has created an over-capacity, which must be addressed," commented Stefan Nordstrom, president of Volvo Articulated Haulers. Volvo said that its assembly operations in Asheville would be phased out during 2003.