Volvo Cars, which has been the first brand that comes to mind when it comes to safety for years, has rolled up its sleeves for the transition to fully electric cars by keeping up with the great transformation in the automobile world. It aims to offer longer range, faster charging and lower cost with its new generation electric cars.
To achieve these goals, Volvo Cars will invest SEK 10 billion in its Torslanda production facility in Sweden in the coming years, preparing it for the production of its next generation of fully electric cars.
Volvo aims to be a fully electric company by 2030!
The company will introduce a range of new and more sustainable technologies and manufacturing processes as part of its planned investments. Among the innovations that will be introduced are mega-casting of aluminum body parts, a new battery assembly plant, and completely renovated paint and final assembly shops.
The investments will come after Volvo Cars and leading battery cell manufacturing company Northvolt announced that they will invest SEK 30 billion in the development and production of high-quality, custom-made batteries for the next generation of all-electric Volvo models.
Both investment plans represent new steps taken by Volvo Cars towards its goal of becoming a fully electric car company by 2030. The investments also show that the company plans a long-term future in its home city of Gothenburg.
Håkan Samuelsson, CEO of Volvo Cars, said, “With these investments, we are taking an important step towards our fully electric future and preparing for more advanced and better electric Volvos. Torslanda is our largest factory and will play a crucial role in our ongoing transformation as we move towards our goal of becoming a company that produces only fully electric cars by 2030.”
The launch of a mega-cast of aluminum body parts for the next generation of electrified Volvo models constitutes the most important and exciting change implemented as part of the investment package. Mega casting provides a range of benefits in terms of sustainability, cost and car performance over the life of the cars. Volvo Cars is one of the first automakers to invest in this process.
Casting the main parts of the car’s floor structure as a single piece of aluminum reduces weight, which improves energy efficiency and therefore the car’s electric range. It also increases the car’s versatility, enabling Volvo designers to make the most of the available space in the cabin and luggage compartment.
Other benefits of mega casting include reduced complexity in the manufacturing process. This provides cost savings in terms of material usage and logistics, resulting in a reduction in carbon footprint in production and supply chain networks.
The modernization of the dyehouse includes the installation of new machinery and the implementation of new processes, which enable the reduction of energy consumption and emissions.
A new battery assembly facility will integrate battery cells and modules into the car’s floor structure, while the assembly shop will be refurbished to accommodate the next generation of fully electric cars. For example, in this way, the upper body and the floor of the car meet for the first time.
Logistics areas will also be renewed, material flow will be improved and the transport of goods and parts to the facility will be optimized. The company will also invest in areas around the facility such as break areas, locker rooms and offices that further improve the work environment for all employees.
The Torslanda plant has an annual production capacity of 300,000 cars and is one of Volvo Cars’ longest-running production facilities. It was opened by Swedish King Gustaf VI Adolf in April 1964 and for a long time was the largest employment point in the country. The Torslanda factory currently works in three shifts and employs approximately 6,500 people.
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