Driving in fifth gear - After success with CNG bus, Kragujevac-based Vulovic Transport works on public utility truck prototype

eKapija web portal will again this year present Aurea awards for the best investments in 2011 in late March. The new cycle has already begun, and we have paid a visit to the companies whose projects were shortlisted for last year's awards to see how far they have gone with the development of their businesses.

Although they say it can always be better, the previous year was very successful for Kragujevac-based Vulovic Transport, which made the first low-floor city bus powered by compressed natural gas (CNG) in Serbia in association with the factory MAZ from Belarus. That bus earned them an award for the best social utility in 2010, which is a special award presented at the Aurea Investment of the Year awards ceremony.

Vulovic Transport delivered 10 new CNG buses to the Belgrade city transportation company GSP last month.

As Vulovic Transport CEO Zoran Vulovic says in an interview with eKapija, the company has taken a significant step forward and started bidding for international jobs. They have already participated in tendering processes in Hungary and Rijeka, Croatia.

Although they did not win these jobs, Vulovic says that those deciding to renew the rolling stock now more often choose to procure vehicles powered by natural gas.

Aside from the fact that this type of vehicles is produced in Serbia only by Vulovic Transport, another specific feature of this bus is reflected in an innovative use of the system of connected gas tanks made of light composite materials.

As the company announced, the construction of a CNG filling station was also completed last year. Part of the money for the procurement of a gas compressor was provided from a loan granted by the Ministry of Environment Protection and the Environmental Fund.

(Zoran Vulovic)

This CNG filling station is only a part of a bigger project whose implementation is close to end. Namely, the company is building an extremely valuable complex, a sort of auto center, which will be in compliance with the world's highest standards. Vulovic Transport has already invested about EUR 1.2 million in the outer part of the complex and close to EUR 1.7 million in halls. This investment does not include the value of land and other infrastructure.

As our interlocutor announces, this complex should be opened this spring.

Vulovic says that they are satisfied with the company's results, since they manage to double their turnover every year, increasing it from RSD 728 million in 2010 to RSD 1.258 billion last year.

Trucks for public utility companies

The Kragujevac-based company may soon find another use for its solutions. Namely, as Vulovic explains to eKapija, they are now working on a public utility truck powered by compressed natural gas, and a prototype of such vehicle should be finished very soon.

- Garbage trucks in Serbia are 23 years old, on average. The use of vehicles we plan to offer to public utility companies in our country would primarily reduce noise, while the fuel consumption would be cut by 50% - says the CEO of Vulovic Transport.

Vulovic adds that such big and important projects, unfortunately, lack support from commercial banks, but he hopes that the announced formation of a development bank will change that.

Vulovic Transport also organizes a training for 60 workers. As our interlocutor stresses, a shortage of skilled staff may pose a big problem because workers usually don't have any direct experience in the production of innovative vehicles.

In order to achieve the production capacity of about 100 buses per year, the CEO of Vulovic Transport says they will need about 100 experienced workers.

J.Đ.