GOTHENBURG, Sweden — Volvo Trucks deliveries increased by 57 per cent in North America in the first half of 2004 compared to same period in 2003.

Volvo truck deliveries in North America between January and July 2004 amounted to 13,602 trucks (over 8,338 during the same period in 2003), the company reported. There was also a sharp increase in Canada, where deliveries were up 106 per cent (1,924 trucks) in the first half of 2004 compared to the same period last year.

Mack Truck, also owned by the Volvo Group delivered 12,565 trucks in North America in the first six months of 2004, over 9,841 trucks in the same period last year, which amounted to a 28 per cent increase, officials reported.

And Renault Trucks, also owned by the group, saw a 34 per cent a drop in North American deliveries for the first half of 2004 (128 trucks) compared to the same period in 2003 (193 trucks). This despite a 13 per cent increase worldwide, with the biggest gains in the South American (271 per cent) and Middle Eastern (246 per cent) markets.