GREENSBORO, N.C. – Volvo Trucks North America and Cummins have teamed making Cummins the truck maker’s sole external engine supplier in North America.

Volvo trucks sold in the United States, Canada and Mexico will only be available with Cummins or Volvo engines, effective with 2002 model year vehicles.

“We are combining strengths of the industry’s leading developers of technology under one hood,” says Marc Gustafson, president and chief executive officer of Volvo Trucks North America.

“This supercharged deal will make the Volvo and Cummins combination best-in-class for vehicle performance and cost.”

The agreement will give Volvo customers a range of engine choices for all applications while reducoing the effects of new emission standards. Heavy-duty diesel engine makers are currently designing new engines to meet the more stringent 2002 U.S. federal exhaust emissions regulations.

One of the alliance’s goals is to make the transition to 2002-emissions-certified engines as seamless as possible for customers.

Available engines range from 250 hp to 600 hp, with displacements from seven to 15 litres. Volvo will supply seven- to 12-litre engine models. Cummins will supply its ISM, N14, ISX and Signature engine models.

Volvo also says it will increase the range of Cummins engines available in the Volvo VN Series, Volvo VHD- and Xpeditor(r) models with the release of the ISL by October 2002. n