Our aim is to create shared value with our stakeholders. Society is a key stakeholder in ensuring a sustainable future. In a networked and rapidly changing world, no one stakeholder can deliver solutions that alleviate the challenges our world faces. We need to collaborate and extend our support by lending and sharing our competencies towards a better world.
The Volvo Group in India remains active across a host of areas in this regard – sustainable mobility, skill development as well as supporting communities in the regions we operate in.
Since 2011, the Volvo Sustainable Mobility Awards have gained momentum with valuable participation from across the nation.
Every year, Volvo Group in India recognizes individuals and groups who are carrying out exceptional work in the area of sustainable mobility. Over the years, the awards have been given to groups working on a range of topics - making public transport more efficient commuter rail, efforts towards efficient public transport information systems, building model city roads with focus on pedestrians, alternate transport modes and the road itself, efforts against drunk driving, promoting cycling and infrastructure among others.
Volvo Buses organises the Volvo Nobel Memorial Seminar on sustainable transport each year. This annual event is organised under the patronage of the Ambassador of Sweden to India and is part of the Sweden-India Nobel Memorial Week of activities. The seminar attracts participation from a diverse group of stakeholders including thought leaders, authorities, opinion makers, citizen groups, academia, media and industry who share their vision for making cities better and improving the quality of life.
Now in its seventh year, the seminar has found a strong foothold and is one of the most sought after yearly programs within the industry.
Volvo’s RASTA (Resource Centre for Asphalt and Soil Testing Academy) is an institute that offers post-graduate degrees and consultation in the area of Highway and Road Building technology. The institute is affiliated with Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), Belgaum to enhance skill levels of civil engineers on the latest road construction technology and to create opportunities to attract young and fresh graduates to the field of road construction.
Under the partnership, the post graduate civil engineering students of VTU receive practical knowledge of operating Volvo’s Construction Equipment and carry out live projects at the institute in Bangalore.
Volvo Group in India has adopted a structured approach in steering CSR initiatives and has been continuously engaged with communities near our factories – paying special attention to skill development, health, education and various other areas.
Namma Halli which translates to ‘My Village’ in Kannada, Karnataka’s regional language, is a project that takes a holistic view of the community development of the adopted villages. Volvo Group’s initiatives in these villages span empowerment of women through self-help groups, livelihood enhancement through farmer development and vocational training for youth, micro-enterprises for women, community health and wellness, education and infrastructure development.
Awareness of risks and understanding how to act with precaution in traffic is crucial for safety. Young people are especially vulnerable and education and awareness are essential to protect them. .
Volvo Group in India started to work with children and teachers to promote traffic safety since Jan 2016. The Stop, Look & Wave program is special because it’s simple, repeatable but at the same time it has a potential to save lives. As part of the program, 10000+ kids in Bangalore have been trained and sensitized to the traffic environment and have learnt key aspects on how to keep themselves safe.
One of the Group’s initiatives to develop social infrastructure and enhance the quality of life of communities is through a strategic partnership with GMR Varalakshmi Foundation (GMRVF). GMRVF offers sustainable solutions for development of under-served communities through education, health and livelihood programs. This foundation has two active centres located at the Hyderabad Airport premises and very close to the Delhi Airport.
Volvo has been associated with GMRVF Hyderabad since September 2012 and with Delhi since August 2014. This uniquely designed CSR activity provides living and employment prospects for the under privileged youth for the Construction Industry as Excavator Operators.
To provide hands on training to the youth Volvo maintains one Volvo CE Excavator EC210BP each at GMRVF’s units at Hyderabad and Delhi. Besides this, experts from Volvo have trained GMRVF faculty members on a uniquely designed course that has given opportunity for many to seek employment in various construction companies in India as well as overseas.
Volvo Group in India is committed to bringing a change in the way driving as a profession is perceived in the Indian market. Volvo Driver Training centre [for trucks & buses] at Hoskote offers various driver training programs to help improved profitability for customers and motivate responsible driving.
The courses are designed to educate drivers not only about their profession, but also about health needs, good habits, computer literacy, communication skills etc. The centre has trained around 90,000+ drivers to date.
