Transportation Sec. LaHood: Volvo’s first U.S.-made wheel loader a sign of confidence in American economy, workers

Updated Mar 27, 2013
U.S. Transportation Sec. Ray LaHood (far right) and Highway Transportation Administrator Victor Mendez (second from left) on a tour of a Volvo production facility. Swedish Ambassador Jonas Hafström is on the far left and olvo Construction Equipment’s head of American sales Göran Lindgren is second from the right.U.S. Transportation Sec. Ray LaHood (far right) and Highway Transportation Administrator Victor Mendez (second from left) on a tour of a Volvo production facility. Swedish Ambassador Jonas Hafström is on the far left and olvo Construction Equipment’s head of American sales Göran Lindgren is second from the right.

Last week, we watched as the first American made Volvo wheel loader (an L60G) rolled off the line at the company’s expanded Shippensburg, Pennsylvania plant. As we noted in our report,  Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez was in attendance also.

Yesterday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood took to his blog to discuss Volvo’s decision. Of course he notes that both he and Mendez are happy to see roadbuilding equipment being manufactured here in the U.S. But LaHood also took some time to discuss what Volvo’s U.S. wheel loader means for the country’s economic prospects.

“Administrator Mendez also pointed out that we are now in the middle of economic recovery as we work our way out of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Unemployment is now at its lowest level in four years. Companies are hiring,” LaHood wrote.

“Manufacturers are hiring, and investing in the future. Volvo’s 12,000 employees in six U.S. production facilities and its $100 investment in its Shippensburg headquarters are a true sign of the company’s confidence in the American worker and in the American economy.”

LaHood takes some time to discuss President Barack Obama’s “fix-it-first” initiative as well. He points to Volvo as a prime example of the type of positive result investing in infrastructure can have.

In short, if you invest in infrastructure and transportation construction, you’re able to attract more companies like Volvo to manufacture the equipment for it. You can read LaHood’s full post here.