Volvo Trucks SA to begin Euro 6 truck production in Durban next year

Volvo Trucks South Africa has confirmed it will kick off serial production of its Euro 6 FH long-haul trucks in the first quarter of 2026, boosting local output of cleaner, fuel-efficient rigs from its Durban assembly plant.

The Euro 6 FH trucks were first brought into the local market in April this year, but Volvo has since upgraded its semi-knocked down assembly facility to handle higher volumes of these low-emission heavy-duty vehicles.

The Euro 6 technology cuts harmful pollutants such as nitric oxide in diesel trucks. Using AdBlue, a urea solution that converts nitrogen oxide into harmless nitrogen gas and steam, the trucks also rely on selective catalytic reduction and diesel particulate filters to keep emissions low.

Besides being greener, the new Euro 6 engines promise operators lower costs with improved fuel economy, longer service intervals, and more uptime. Drivers can also look forward to upgraded comfort and safety features.

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To prepare for production, Volvo Trucks SA has invested in new plant equipment, including four skylifts due to come online before year-end. These lifts will improve safety and efficiency on the assembly line as well as in workshops.

Currently, Volvo offers its FH Globetrotter and facelifted FH Aero Globetrotter models in Euro 3, 5 and 6 variants, alongside six electric truck models. Next year, a new FH electric truck with a 600 km range will also join the line-up, making battery-electric rigs more practical for long-haul routes.

Eric Parry, Volvo’s senior manager for sustainable solutions, says the company is focused on partnerships with customers that balance operational efficiency with environmental responsibility. He added that Volvo’s uptime monitoring systems, which track wear on filters, brakes, clutches and other components, helped prevent 432 breakdowns between January and July this year. The system will soon extend to electric truck components, including batteries.

With 82.4% of South Africa’s freight moved by road, Volvo says keeping trucks running reliably is key to building a sustainable and efficient transport sector.