The gap left by SDLG's exit is closing fast. Volvo CE is preparing a medium wheel loader that will be built in India. Engineers at Bengaluru Tech Centre are tweaking Volvo's global loader platform to meet local power and payload needs. Early spec shows a 90‑tonne capacity and a 350‑hp engine. The move is aimed at medium‑size mining and industrial sites that need a balance between cost and performance.
Medium loaders sit between the heavy 200‑tonne machines and the compact 20‑tonne models. Competitors like Tata, L&T and JCB offer 70‑to‑100 tonne options at prices ranging from ₹25 lakh to ₹45 lakh. Volvo's new loader will likely slot in at the higher end of that range, targeting the premium segment. Buyers will appreciate the brand’s safety features and global support network.
SDLG, which had been the main supplier of medium loaders in India, will wind down its Bengaluru assembly by year‑end. Volvo CE will keep distributing SDLG units until then, then shift to its own distribution hubs. The decision mirrors Volvo’s 2024 exit from the asphalt paving business, signalling a focus on core construction assets. The transition also gives local dealers a chance to recalibrate their inventory and after‑sales services.
The first units are expected in early 2027, with rolls out in Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata before expanding to Bangalore and Hyderabad. Dealers should keep an eye on the official launch event slated for October 2027. In the meantime, Volvo CE’s recent EC650 and L120 launches show the company’s commitment to powerful, efficient equipment for India’s booming mining sector.