Since 1977 · roots back to 1945
Our History
Volgren began trading in 1977, but our story starts decades earlier — with a Dandenong milk carrier who saw the future in buses. Volvo + Grenda = Volgren.
The Grenda story begins
George Grenda buys four bus routes and six vehicles in Dandenong. Within a year he sells his milk business to focus entirely on buses — the first chapter of an Australian manufacturing success story.
Volgren builds VG0001, its first ever unit
Volgren’s first ever built unit, VG0001, rolls off the line.
Volgren is born
Volvo invites Grenda to distribute its chassis in Victoria and southern NSW. The partnership creates Volgren — Volvo + Grenda — and brings a second affiliation with Swiss body builder Hess, introducing extruded aluminium construction and the bolted system that became Co-bolt.
VG0001 — the first Volgren bus
Volgren builds and delivers VG0001, its first ever bus — a Volvo B58 bodied for Grenda’s. The vehicle has since been restored and still appears at company milestones.
Independence
Volgren Australia Pty Ltd is formed and the formal Volvo agreement concludes — opening the door to building on any chassis.
Going national
State government and council contracts turn a Victorian success into a nationwide manufacturer: Perth (1999), Brisbane (2008) and Newcastle (2009) factories join Dandenong.
5,000 and counting
Volgren delivers its 5,000th bus body across all factories, two years after celebrating Dandenong’s 2,500th.
Marcopolo arrives
After more than 30 years of family ownership, the Grenda Corporation sells a majority stake to Brazil’s Marcopolo S.A., one of the world’s largest bus body manufacturers. Full ownership follows in 2017 — adding global technology, buying power and 75+ years of experience to Volgren’s local capability.
Zero-emission era
Volgren delivers its first Optimus™ battery-electric bus — the start of Australia’s leading ZEB program, later joined by hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles.
First hydrogen-powered buses
Volgren builds its first locally made hydrogen fuel-cell bus, in partnership with UK hydrogen pioneer Wrightbus — the first time Wrightbus powertrain technology has been used by an Australian manufacturer. A second hydrogen bus follows shortly after, joining a ZEB portfolio that has grown past 150 vehicles across six battery-electric and fuel-cell variants.
10,000th locally built bus
Volgren delivers its 10,000th bus — an advanced battery-electric vehicle built with Volvo for WA’s Public Transport Authority — marking 45 years since the first bus in 1979 and 25 years of the Malaga (Perth) facility.
Adelaide facility opens
Volgren extends operations into South Australia for the first time, opening a dedicated facility in Pennington, Adelaide — offering local product and warranty support, full body repairs, and parts supply for Volgren and Marcopolo models.
Marcopolo G8 launches in Australia
The Marcopolo G8 — a coach platform with more than 5,000 units already in service worldwide — officially launches in Melbourne, bringing a new benchmark in comfort, safety and efficiency to the Australian touring and charter market.
Australia’s first electric articulated bus
Built on Volvo’s new low-floor BZL Electric Articulated chassis, the 18-metre, 57-seat bus is bodied entirely at Volgren’s Malaga facility — the first electric articulated bus built in Australia, extending four years of BZL Electric rigid-bus deployment with PTA WA.
Great Place to Work® Certified™
Volgren earns Great Place to Work® Certification for 2026–2027 — a recognition based entirely on what our own people say about working here.