Volvo Buses’ partner MCV has inaugurated a new 10,000-square-metre production line for electric buses near Cairo, Egypt, aimed at supplying vehicles to European markets. The plant will manufacture the Volvo 7900 Electric, 7900 Electric Artic and 8900 Electric, enhancing the Swedish manufacturer’s electrification strategy with increased capacity and flexibility.
MCV, which began producing complete Volvo electric buses in 2024 while the facility was under construction, has already delivered its first units to European customers. The first rollouts from the new site are expected this autumn.
“The business model to collaborate with body builders for the bus body is well established in many key markets around the world. For example, in the UK, MCV has been a reliable partner for over 15 years, supplying bodies for various Volvo bus models,” said Anna Westerberg, President of Volvo Buses.
The partnership follows a 2023 memorandum of understanding allowing MCV to manufacture bus bodies under licence for Volvo’s 7900 Electric and 7900 Electric Artic models. Volvo Buses, which previously decided not to manufacture complete buses in Europe, will continue producing chassis and electric drives at its Swedish facilities in Borås and Uddevalla, while MCV supplies bodywork and interiors.
“With an extended partnership with MCV, we can maintain and reinforce our standards of quality, safety, and sustainability,” Westerberg said. “The new manufacturing plant combined with our joint history and ambitions to deliver the best solutions to our customers provide a solid foundation for growth.”
MCV, based in Egypt, also produces buses in Singapore and South Africa and has expanded its portfolio with its own electric city bus. Founded originally as a Daimler agency, it has manufactured vehicles under its own brand since 2006, often based on chassis from partners such as Mercedes-Benz and Volvo.
