Nors group
Nors group
Currently, Auto Sueco Portugal, the company which gave rise to the Nors Group, is the exclusive distributor of Volvo trucks and buses, as well as Volvo Penta marine and industrial engines for Portugal. The company has a varied services portfolio and is also the exclusive distributor of the Kohler-SDMO generator units for Portugal and more recently the representative of the Isuzu Buses brand in that market.
The Nors Group, a Portuguese group operating in 17 countries, with a history dating back almost 90 years, is involved in the following business sectors: mobility and transport, construction and agricultural equipment, aftermarket distribution and retail, and complementary services. Today, Nors has over 4,000 employees and a turnover exceeding 2 billion euros.
our history
our history
With a history spanning almost 90 years, Auto Sueco Portugal is renowned throughout Portugal as a partner of trust. We are our customers’ business partners. Trust is always at the heart of our business, helping our customers to reduce risks, decrease costs, enhance operational availability and increase their revenue.
We have a team of 300 people, 250 of whom work in our own 8 workshops in a nationwide assistance network, together with a special Collision Centre for heavy vehicles of every brand.
We are renowned for having an experienced and dedicated commercial team that works in close proximity with our customers, fostering relationships of the utmost trust. We also stand out for our excellent aftersales service, where we have highly skilled technicians, who have access to ongoing training in new products and services.
1933
Luiz Óscar Jervell
Auto Sueco’s beginnings date back to 1933, when Gunnar Wingren, Volvo’s exports inspector, insisted on Luiz Óscar Jervell, a Norwegian born in Porto on 1st March 1905, becoming the Volvo brand’s representative in Portugal. During that same year, on 27th June and 27th July, Luis Óscar Jervell imported the first two 70-series Volvos.
1949
Auto Sueco -
Yngvar Poppe Jensen, a Norwegian from Haugesund, born in 1911, was a technical inspector for Volvo’s aftersales assistance who regularly travelled to Portugal and built a close friendship with Luiz Óscar Jervell. During one of his trips, the Second World War broke out causing the occupation of Norway - so the young technician was prevented from returning to his homeland. As such, the name Auto Sueco appeared for the first time on 1st April 1949, when the decision was taken to make the business autonomous. João Pinto de Freitas, Head of Accounting at that time, was nominated manager, having later taken on the role of Managing Director, also becoming a partner.
1959
Auto Sueco Coimbra
In 1959, Auto Sueco Coimbra (now called Ascendum) was incorporated as a joint venture between Auto Sueco and the Rodrigues Vieira family, with the aim of carrying out all Volvo’s activity in the Centre region of Portugal.
1973
Expansion in Portugal
Volvo’s sales in Portugal kept on growing. The aftersales assistance and service were seen as exemplary. The company gradually opened facilities throughout the country, creating associate companies and expanding its dealership network.
1991
First international move
1991 was the year marking the beginning of the Group’s internationalisation through the Volvo business. On 12th July, Auto Sueco set up a new company in the Republic of Angola. Auto Sueco Angola was the first completely privately-owned company to be created in that country, under the auspices of the Office for Foreign Investment, a body created by the Angolan government within the scope of the liberalisation of private initiative.
1994
Kohler
Auto Sueco has been linked to KOHLER since 1994, as the representative of that company in Portugal. It is responsible for the marketing and sale of generator sets for a wide variety of uses, as well as the brand’s respective technical assistance in that market.
1999
Spanish Market
In 1999, the Auto Sueco Group made its second international move, through Auto Sueco Coimbra (currently Ascendum), with the acquisition of Volvo Maquinaria de Construcción España, which had been a subsidiary of Volvo Construction Equipment until then. So, the Portuguese company then became the distributor of Volvo construction and earthmoving machinery in Spain.
2003
Civiparts Group
In 2003, the Auto Sueco Group acquired the Civiparts Group (marketing and sale of multi-brand parts for heavy vehicles).
2004
Ascendum USA
During the course of 2004, the Auto Sueco Group continued with its international expansion strategy, by creating ASC Construction Equipment USA, Inc. (now Ascendum USA) in five regions - Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and North and South Carolina - thus achieving presence in one of the biggest markets in the world.
2005
Auto-Maquinaria
In 2005, the Auto Sueco Group began distributing Volvo Construction Equipment products in Angola, by setting up Auto Maquinaria.
2006
AS Parts
The light vehicles aftermarket business began with the creation of AS Parts. Auto Sueco Botswana was formed in Africa. With the growth of the Auto Sueco Group in various business sectors, a new image was developed aiming to visually unify all the Group’s companies.
2007
Auto Sueco Centro-Oeste
2007 marked the beginning of the Group’s operations in Brazil. Auto Sueco Brasil - now Auto Sueco Centro Oeste - started in business as a Volvo trucks and buses dealership for the States of Mato Grosso, Rondônia and Acre.
2008
Sotkon
This was the year celebrating the Group’s 75th anniversary. In the same year, the Group acquired MBE Sotkon S.L. which would then give rise to Sotkon - a company that manufactures, assembles and installs underground solid urban waste containers.
2010
AutoSueco São Paulo
2010 was a year of investment for the Auto Sueco Group: it acquired Vocal (now Auto Sueco São Paulo), the biggest Volvo trucks and buses dealership in Brazil and Latin America, thereby strengthening its positioning in the Brazilian market.
2010
Turkish Market
Auto Sueco Coimbra (currently Ascendum), acquired Volvo Otomotiv Turk - a Volvo CE Sales Company for Turkey.
2012
Ascendum’s Expansion
The Auto Sueco Group broke the 1 billion euros barrier and Auto Sueco Coimbra changed its name to Ascendum. Also that year, Ascendum expanded its business to Mexico.
2013
The Nors brand
In 2013, the Group fulfilled its multinational vocation, operating in 4 continents and 24 markets, giving rise to a new identity and a new name for the holding - Nors.
2018
Auto-Sueco Portugal
1st October saw the start of business for the new Auto Sueco Portugal, S.A. After 85 years of working in different business sectors, Auto Sueco legally transferred some of its businesses to the Nors Group. A history of success that will continue in the future.
2019
Collision Center
The Collision Center and Specialised Services was created with the aim of offering a service of excellence to all professional customers. We provide services in the following areas: collision, paintwork, hydraulic kit fitting, superstructure repairs, and multi-brand heavy and light vehicle polish and wash service.
2021
Isuzu
In 2021, Auto Sueco Portugal incorporated the Isuzu brand - represented in Europe by Anadolu Isuzu - into its heavy passenger vehicle portfolio.
1933
Luiz Óscar Jervell
Auto Sueco’s beginnings date back to 1933, when Gunnar Wingren, Volvo’s exports inspector, insisted on Luiz Óscar Jervell, a Norwegian born in Porto on 1st March 1905, becoming the Volvo brand’s representative in Portugal. During that same year, on 27th June and 27th July, Luis Óscar Jervell imported the first two 70-series Volvos.
1949
Auto Sueco -
Yngvar Poppe Jensen, a Norwegian from Haugesund, born in 1911, was a technical inspector for Volvo’s aftersales assistance who regularly travelled to Portugal and built a close friendship with Luiz Óscar Jervell. During one of his trips, the Second World War broke out causing the occupation of Norway - so the young technician was prevented from returning to his homeland. As such, the name Auto Sueco appeared for the first time on 1st April 1949, when the decision was taken to make the business autonomous. João Pinto de Freitas, Head of Accounting at that time, was nominated manager, having later taken on the role of Managing Director, also becoming a partner.
1959
Auto Sueco Coimbra
In 1959, Auto Sueco Coimbra (now called Ascendum) was incorporated as a joint venture between Auto Sueco and the Rodrigues Vieira family, with the aim of carrying out all Volvo’s activity in the Centre region of Portugal.
1973
Expansion in Portugal
Volvo’s sales in Portugal kept on growing. The aftersales assistance and service were seen as exemplary. The company gradually opened facilities throughout the country, creating associate companies and expanding its dealership network.
1991
First international move
1991 was the year marking the beginning of the Group’s internationalisation through the Volvo business. On 12th July, Auto Sueco set up a new company in the Republic of Angola. Auto Sueco Angola was the first completely privately-owned company to be created in that country, under the auspices of the Office for Foreign Investment, a body created by the Angolan government within the scope of the liberalisation of private initiative.
1994
Kohler
Auto Sueco has been linked to KOHLER since 1994, as the representative of that company in Portugal. It is responsible for the marketing and sale of generator sets for a wide variety of uses, as well as the brand’s respective technical assistance in that market.
1999
Spanish Market
In 1999, the Auto Sueco Group made its second international move, through Auto Sueco Coimbra (currently Ascendum), with the acquisition of Volvo Maquinaria de Construcción España, which had been a subsidiary of Volvo Construction Equipment until then. So, the Portuguese company then became the distributor of Volvo construction and earthmoving machinery in Spain.
2003
Civiparts Group
In 2003, the Auto Sueco Group acquired the Civiparts Group (marketing and sale of multi-brand parts for heavy vehicles).
2004
Ascendum USA
During the course of 2004, the Auto Sueco Group continued with its international expansion strategy, by creating ASC Construction Equipment USA, Inc. (now Ascendum USA) in five regions - Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and North and South Carolina - thus achieving presence in one of the biggest markets in the world.
2005
Auto-Maquinaria
In 2005, the Auto Sueco Group began distributing Volvo Construction Equipment products in Angola, by setting up Auto Maquinaria.
2006
AS Parts
The light vehicles aftermarket business began with the creation of AS Parts. Auto Sueco Botswana was formed in Africa. With the growth of the Auto Sueco Group in various business sectors, a new image was developed aiming to visually unify all the Group’s companies.
2007
Auto Sueco Centro-Oeste
2007 marked the beginning of the Group’s operations in Brazil. Auto Sueco Brasil - now Auto Sueco Centro Oeste - started in business as a Volvo trucks and buses dealership for the States of Mato Grosso, Rondônia and Acre.
2008
Sotkon
This was the year celebrating the Group’s 75th anniversary. In the same year, the Group acquired MBE Sotkon S.L. which would then give rise to Sotkon - a company that manufactures, assembles and installs underground solid urban waste containers.
2010
AutoSueco São Paulo
2010 was a year of investment for the Auto Sueco Group: it acquired Vocal (now Auto Sueco São Paulo), the biggest Volvo trucks and buses dealership in Brazil and Latin America, thereby strengthening its positioning in the Brazilian market.
2010
Turkish Market
Auto Sueco Coimbra (currently Ascendum), acquired Volvo Otomotiv Turk - a Volvo CE Sales Company for Turkey.
2012
Ascendum’s Expansion
The Auto Sueco Group broke the 1 billion euros barrier and Auto Sueco Coimbra changed its name to Ascendum. Also that year, Ascendum expanded its business to Mexico.
2013
The Nors brand
In 2013, the Group fulfilled its multinational vocation, operating in 4 continents and 24 markets, giving rise to a new identity and a new name for the holding - Nors.
2018
Auto-Sueco Portugal
1st October saw the start of business for the new Auto Sueco Portugal, S.A. After 85 years of working in different business sectors, Auto Sueco legally transferred some of its businesses to the Nors Group. A history of success that will continue in the future.
2019
Collision Center
The Collision Center and Specialised Services was created with the aim of offering a service of excellence to all professional customers. We provide services in the following areas: collision, paintwork, hydraulic kit fitting, superstructure repairs, and multi-brand heavy and light vehicle polish and wash service.
2021
Isuzu
In 2021, Auto Sueco Portugal incorporated the Isuzu brand - represented in Europe by Anadolu Isuzu - into its heavy passenger vehicle portfolio.
