Volvo Construction Equipment to Franchise in 2004 <b></b>

Asheville, North Carolina-Volvo ConstructionEquipment Rents (Volvo Rents) has grown from 16 to 40 locations inNorth America in 2003, selling more than 400 units of Volvoequipment through the rental channel and tallying up 25,000 end-usecustomers. For 2004, they project 55 new locations to open, withagreements signed for 61 additional units by the end of theyear.

Franchising provided a channel to bring compact wheel loaders toprofitable market sections across the country. For a one-timefranchise fee of $35,000, Volvo Rents franchisees receive use ofthe Volvo brand, financial assistance through Volvo CommercialFinance, a fleet purchasing program for non-Volvo products,proprietary business planning software, proprietary customerrelationship management software, a proprietary point-of-saleoperating system, training, facility design, operating manuals, andregional and local marketing. -Fishman PR