Tag: volvo trucks

  • Volvo Group and Daimler Truck sign binding agreement for joint venture

    Volvo Group and Daimler Truck sign binding agreement for joint venture

    As announced in may this year, Volvo Group and Daimler Truck intend to create a joint venture to develop a common software-defined vehicle platform and dedicated truck operating system, providing the basis for future software-defined commercial vehicles.

    The two leading companies in the commercial vehicle industry have now signed a binding agreement to establish the joint venture and are working towards setting up the company that will be headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden.

    The software-defined vehicle platform will enable Volvo Group and Daimler Truck and potential other future customers of the joint venture to provide stand-alone digital vehicle functions for their products. 

    Leading the digital transformation

    The signing demonstrates our joint commitment to lead the digital transformation of our industry. The software and hardware from this joint venture will be crucial for achieving unprecedented levels of safety, comfort, and efficiency for our customers, says Karin Rådström, CEO of Daimler Truck.

    Martin Lundstedt, president and CEO of the Volvo Group, adds we are joining forces to redefine software architecture and pioneer a new era of self-optimizing trucks.

    Together we are removing complexity to allow our customers to unlock higher levels of connectivity, safety and efficiency and continually push for a greater performance. It is a revolutionary response to the challenges of our modern world, and we are proud to be setting the industry standard.

    The joint venture’s activities will include the specification and procurement of centralized high-performance control units dedicated for commercial vehicles and capable of handling large amounts of data.

    The new company will develop an operating system and tools which vehicle manufacturers can use as a basis to develop their own differentiating digital vehicle features. This will decouple software and hardware development cycles in the future and enable customers to purchase and update digital applications wirelessly over the air, ultimately enhancing customer efficiency and experience. 

    Volvo group and daimler truck will remain competitors and continue to differentiate their complete product and services offerings, including their respective digital solutions.

  • Volvo trucks ramps up the use of low-CO2-emission steel

    Volvo trucks ramps up the use of low-CO2-emission steel

    Volvo is now ramping up the use of low-CO2-emission steel in its trucks. Volvo was the world’s first truck manufacturer to introduce this type of steel in its electric trucks in 2022. Now the company is expanding the use of low-CO2-emission steel to include all drivelines.

    The new steel is produced by the Swedish steel company SSAB and called SSAB Zero. It is made from recycled material and produced using fossil-free electricity and biogas. As a result, CO2 is reduced by around 80 percent compared to the production of conventional steel using fossil energy.

    Next year, the frame rails in around 12,000 Volvo FH and FM trucks will be made of low-CO2-emission steel. This will result in savings of 6,600 tons of CO2 Equivalents. As the availability of low-CO2-emission steel increases, it will be introduced in more truck models as well as in other parts of the truck.

    Volvo is also planning to replace other materials in its trucks with lower emissions alternatives.

    “This is an additional step towards our zero emissions vision. Steel is one of the main materials in our trucks. We are also looking to exchange other materials, such as aluminium and plastic, to low emission alternatives. We are proud to lead the way in the industry when it comes to sustainable material in our trucks,” says Jan Hjelmgren, Senior Vice President Product Management and Quality, Volvo Trucks.

    Half of the truck consists of steel

    The potential for lowering CO2 emissions is high as almost half the truck consists of steel (47 percent of a Volvo FH diesel truck), and it represents about 44 percent of the CO2 emissions from the production (cradle to gate) out of the total 21 tons CO2 Equivalents  for the Volvo FH diesel.

    Volvo Group is collaborating with several suppliers around low-CO2-emission steel. Low-CO2-emission steel will be an important complement to the traditional and recycled steel used in Volvo’s trucks.

    Volvo Trucks is committed to the Paris agreement and to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in the supply chain by 2040, at the latest.

    “We are continuously striving to further minimize our climate footprint. We are also moving towards greater circularity in both our operations and our trucks. Many of our factories, transports and dealers are today running on renewable energy,” says Jan Hjelmgren.