Prime Minister Scott Morrison Tours Volvo Group Australia Plant, Points Out Success Of Tax Incentives

February 02, 2021
Volvo Trucks Australia

Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Volvo Group Australia President and CEO Martin Merrick both highlighted the importance and success of local manufacturing efforts by Volvo during a recent tour of the firm’s Wacol manufacturing plant near Brisbane. With new Volvo and Mack truck models on hand, Merrick claimed that “manufacturing in Australia is alive and well,” pointing to Volvo’s 1,400 local workers and investments in the plant as evidence.

More Investments Coming

Volvo’s investments are also helping support 90 local suppliers, Merrick said. “We spend more than $400 million dollars in the local supply chain every year. And our intention is to increase that local investment in the future.” Despite recent challenges felt worldwide, he said, “one thing that has been reinforced here in Australia has been the importance of both road transport and truckies.” Merrick added, “Supply chains don’t just feed industry, they feed society.”

Joining Morrison were other officials, including Assistant Minister for Road Freight and Safety Scott Buchholz; Minister for Science, Technology, and Industry Karen Andrews; and Councillor Sarah Hutton. “We make things in Australia, and we make them well," Morrison said. “Our new tax incentive for new investment has meant a surge of new orders, which will be keeping these workers at this plant very busy this year.” Morrison departed the plant driving a Volvo FL Electric, a two-axle truck model featuring either four or six 600-volt batteries that’s soon to undergo trials.

Australian Made

As Morrison noted, all trucks leaving Volvo’s factory include an Australian Made logo. “Our modern manufacturing strategy is all about supporting business to continue to invest in making things in Australia and ensuring there's a big future for manufacturing in this country,” he said.

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