Volvo, ArvinMeritor enter axle joint ventures

ArvinMeritor and the Volvo Group have formed two joint ventures expanding a 1998 agreement for the supply of heavy-duty drive axles. The new arrangement will result in ArvinMeritor manufacturing 200,000 axles for Volvo annually from a plant and foundry located in St. Priest, France. ArvinMeritor acquired Volvo’s commercial axle manufacturing facility in Lindesberg, Sweden, in late 1998. As part of that transaction, ArvinMeritor entered a long-term supply agreement with Volvo for heavy-duty drive axles. The new joint ventures expand that agreement. A portion of non-drive axles currently made at Volvo’s Koping, Sweden, facility will be shifted to the St. Priest joint venture.