Who we are Who we are

Nors genesis goes back to 1933, when Luiz Óscar Jervell became the representative of the Volvo brand in Portugal.

In April 1,1949 the designation Auto Sueco appears for the first time, in a decision made with Yngvar Poppe Jensen to turn the business independent.

In 1959, Auto Sueco Coimbra was born (now designated Ascendum).

The company inaugurated facilities across the country, creating associated companies and extending the dealer network.

1991 marks the beginning of the Group’s internationalization with Volvo’s activity, with the settlement in Republic of Angola.

In 1999, Auto Sueco Group takes its second international step, through Auto Sueco Coimbra, current Ascendum, with the acquisition of Volmaquinaria de Construcción España.

In 2003, Auto Sueco Group acquires Civiparts Group (sale of multi-brand parts for heavy vehicles).

In 2004, Auto Sueco Group continues its strategy of international expansion with the creation of ASC Construction Equipment USA — current Ascendum USA — and with the beginning of Auto Sueco operations in Windhoek, Namibia.

In 2005, Auto Sueco Group begins to distribute Volvo Construction Equipment products in Angola, with the creation of Auto-Maquinaria.

Car Aftermarket activity began operating with the creation AS Parts. In Africa, Auto Sueco Botswana is born.

2007 marks the beginning of Group’s operations in Brazil. Auto Sueco Brasil – current Auto Sueco Centro Oeste – begins its activity as Volvo trucks and buses dealer for the states of Mato Grosso, Rondônia and Acre.

The year of 2008 was marked by the celebration of Nors’ 75th anniversary.
In that same year, the Group acquires MBE Sotkon, the company that would be in the genesis of Sotkon.

2010 is a year of investment for Auto Sueco Group. Vocal – current Auto Sueco São Paulo – the major dealer of Volvo trucks and buses in Brazil and Latin America, is acquired, reinforcing its positioning in the Brazilian market.

Auto Sueco (Coimbra) – current Ascendum – acquires Volvo Otomotiv Turk – a Sales Company of Volvo CE for Turkey territories. The new company would be designated as ASC TURK MAKINA, LTD.

In 2012, Auto Sueco Group exceeds the mark of 1 billion Euros, and Auto Sueco Coimbra is now designated Grupo Ascendum. Also in 2012, Ascendum expands its activity to Mexico. ONEDRIVE is born as a car aftermarket retail brand.

In 2013, the Group assumes its multinational approach with a presence through 4 continents and 24 markets, which brings out a new identity and a new name for the holding – Nors.
Ascendum Group expands its activities to Central Europe, taking responsibility for the development of Volvo Construction Equipment in Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania and Croatia.

In the beginning of 2014, the first investment in agricultural equipment was made, with the acquisition of Agro New, dealer of CASE IH Agriculture, the brand of Case New Holland (CNH) for agricultural equipment in the State of São Paulo, Brazil.

In 2014, Nors enters the Mozambican market with the inauguration of Auto Sueco Moçambique, in Maputo, specialized in the distribution and after-sales service for Volvo trucks and buses in this region.

In March 2015, Nors Group assumes the presence of Renault Trucks in Portugal through its new company, Galius, which has integrated sales and After Sales operations, facilities and other assets, such as the relation with the private network of Renault Trucks Portugal Lda. services.

In January 2020, KinLai starts its operations as a truck dealer of the Chinese brand Dongfeng, in Angola.

March marks the expansion to the Canadian market with the acquisition of STRONGCO, a major multiline mobile equipment dealer that sells, rents and services equipment used in diverse sectors such as construction, infrastructure, mining, oil and gas, utilities, municipalities, waste management and forestry.