- The initial step is a 18,000-square metre facility and the construction will start early 2021 with the aim to be fully operational by 2023
- 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
Swedish truckmaker Scania plans to invest more than 1 billion Swedish crowns ($116 million) over several years in a battery assembly plant in Sodertalje, near Stockholm. The initial step is a 18,000-square metre facility and the construction will start early 2021 with the aim to be fully operational by 2023.
Ruthger de Vries, head of production and Logistics at Scania said, “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. 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.”
Built adjacent to the chassis assembly plant in Södertälje
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.
Vries added, “Scania continues to invest in the Stockholm Region and to build end-to-end electrification competence. Electrification will transform transport and this latest investment in Scania’s operations in Södertälje will further strengthen Sweden as a centre of cutting-edge innovation within heavy vehicle electrification. “
In 2015, Scania started series production of hybrid buses and in 2019 of its first fully electric bus range. Recently, there was the introduction of Scania’s plug-in hybrid truck and the fully electric truck. Series production of the electric truck starts in 2021. Scania will now gradually ramp up production, which is centred in Södertälje.
Highly automated
The plant will employ a staff of 200 people with most being recruited from within the company. it 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. It is concurrently being reorganised for parallel assembly of electric and combustion engine vehicles.
