Scania is to invest more than SEK1bn (US$116m) in a battery assembly plant in Södertälje, Sweden.
The initial step will be a 18,000-square metre facility and construction will start in early 2021, with the aim to be fully operational by 2023.
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“This is a tangible manifestation of our determination to take a leading role in heavy vehicle electrification, which is needed to fulfil our commitment to science-based climate targets,” said Scania head of Production and Logistics, Ruthger de Vries.
“Operating an on-site battery assembly plant is a prerequisite for large-scale production of electric vehicles and it also establishes Scania clearly as a part of the battery production value chain.”
The plant, which will be built adjacent to the chassis assembly plant in Södertälje, will assemble battery modules and packs from cells, which will be delivered from Northvolt’s battery factory in Skellefteå, Sweden. The assembled packs form battery systems tailored for Scania’s modular production.
“Scania continues to invest in the Stockholm Region and to build end-to-end electrification competence,” added de Vries. “Electrification will transform transport and this latest investment in Scania’s operations in Södertälje will further strengthen Sweden as a centre within heavy vehicle electrification.”
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By GlobalDataIn 2015, Scania started series production of hybrid buses and in 2019 of its first fully electric bus range. This was recently followed by the introduction of Scania’s plug-in hybrid truck and the fully electric truck. Series production of the electric truck starts in 2021.
Electrified industrial and marine power solutions are also being developed. Scania will now gradually ramp up production, which is centred in Södertälje.
Employing a staff of 200, mostly recruited from within the company, the battery assembly plant will be highly automated from incoming goods throughout production to delivery. Staff handling manual elements of battery module assembly, such as fitting cable harnesses, will be trained in electrical safety and protection.
Battery packs will be tailored for varying applications and delivered to the nearby chassis assembly, which is concurrently being reorganised for parallel assembly of electric and combustion engine vehicles.
