When the CEO Takes an ADT for a Test Drive

We had a great time in Sweden with Volvo CE to witness the launch of their all-new range of articulated haulers which are designed and built in Braås, which is considered to be the spiritual home of the ADT concept.

New content is coming out every day, and I was delighted to come across this video which features a test drive opportunity for the CEO of Volvo Construction Equipment Melker Jernberg, who in my experience is one of the most likeable and personable characters in the industry, a busy guy who always has time to talk and is clearly passionate about the company’s products, which comes across in this video.

He is right of course; the new machines are exceptional and it will be interesting to see how they are received out in the field with customer.

It’s not just a cosmetic makeover with these trucks, but an entirely new overhaul of the range starting with the A25 through to the A60, and with the addition of the all new A50 it now extends to seven models.

Effectively the range is split up into three families, medium includes the A25-A30, large range features the A35, A40, A45 and A50, with the top end heavy duty model being the A60.

The A25 has been an industry staple for many decades whilst at the other end of the scale the A60 brings the wow factor to the line-up.

Slotting in nicely between the A45 which Melker is driving in the video, and A60 model the all new A50 which has a gross operational weight of 78,590 kg, has a load capacity of 45-tonnes and a heaped body volume of 27.8 m³. Power comes from the well proven in house built six-cylinder Volvo D16J diesel engine which is EU Stage V emissions compliant and produces a power output rating of 385 kW (516 hp) @1,900rpm.

The transmissions have also been brought in-house, initially these units will be fitted to the A45, A50 and A60 replacing the outgoing Allison drivetrains with the latest Volvo transmissions which are manufactured in their own facility in Eskilstuna.

These state-of-the-art transmissions also feature what Volvo calls Terrain Memory, which incredibly has the ability to identify and remember slippery haul road segments, which in the video we see safely providing traction on the icy slopes around what appears to be Volvo’s test track at the manufacturers Customer Centre in Eskilstuna.

Enjoy the video, it’s a cracker!