Roger Alm, president of Volvo Truck, had a positive business update to present at the IAA Transportation show in Hannover, Germany. It included four more trucks in the company’s portfolio since the last IAA show two years ago, record volumes two years in a row and increased market share in many markets around the world.
And 2024 marks the biggest launch year ever in Volvo Trucks history.
(Photo: Steve Bouchard)
“We are launching a completely new product range globally, both conventional and cabover trucks,” said Alm. Volvo Trucks also increased from six to eight models its serial production of electric trucks.
Those trucks offer significantly better fuel economy and different powertrains, “all designed to take safety, uptime and productivity, and driver comfort to a completely new level.”
The launch at the beginning of the year of the new VNL was, of course, a highlight for Volvo. The VNL was on display at the Volvo booth at IAA. “It’s a completely new truck with a new energy efficient platform, cutting fuel consumption by 10%. This will improve customers’ productivity and uptime,” Alm said.
Explaining the importance of the new VNL in the Volvo line, he said that North America is Volvo’s biggest market. “We have very high growth ambitions in North America,” Alm said. “The all-new VNL will reinforce our product offer. We will also increase our production capacity with the new factory that we will open in Mexico in 2026.”
Alm says this new plant is instrumental to complement the New River Valley plant in the assembly of the new VNL.
Autonomous new VNL
Volvo has developed an autonomous version of the new VNL and is presently running pilot tests on public roads “to gather mileage and knowledge.”
Volvo dealers are also investing to expand and reinforce the dealer network. “So, we are committed to grow our business and market shares in North America,” Alm vowed.
In Europe, Volvo also launched the FH Aero, which benefits from a completely new aerodynamic design promising fuel savings of around 5%, although the feedback from some customers indicated those savings are closer to 7-8%. Volvo also launched in Europe the FM low-entry all-electric truck for applications such as waste collection, construction work or goods delivery, and the iconic FH 16 is now offered with a powerful 17-liter engine producing 780 hp with torque of 2,300 lb.-ft., still offering a 5% reduction in fuel consumption.
“In only five years, we have reduced the fuel consumption of our products by approximately 20%.”
Speaking of the camera monitoring system replacing the mirrors on the European Volvos, Alm said not only do they help save fuel because they improve aerodynamics, but they are also safer than traditional mirrors.
Industry-leading camera mirror system
“I dare to say that our camera monitoring system is leading in safety in the industry. It removes the blind spot and the drivers can see very clearly in dark and rainy conditions, and the feedback that we are receiving from our customers is just amazing,” Alm said.
Volvo started the production of all-electric trucks in 2019. The company unveiled that since then, the 4,200 electric trucks it manufactured have accumulated more than 99 million kilometers in commercial service around the world. Volvo sold electric trucks in 48 countries, taking 51% market shares in Europe and 40% in North America.
Volvo reach another milestone as it will the launch next year of the long-range FH Electric with a range of up to 600 kilometers.
“It has been developed for inter-regional and longhaul, and it can be driven for an entire working day without being recharged. The perfect solution for many of our customers,” said Jan Hjelmgren, head of product management for Volvo Trucks.
This is possible thanks to an electrical axle developed and produced in house. The electrical motors, the transmission and the rear axle are integrated in a very compact way to give more space for the batteries. Volvo also improved the battery technology, the battery management system, as well as the overall efficiency of the driveline.
On the charging front, Volvo is working with its customers to set up tailored offerings for private charging.
“But we also need to see much more public charge points,” says Hjelmgrem, adding a joint venture with Traton and Daimler is in place to bring 1,700 additional charge points in Europe. “In North America, we are working together Pilot, and we are using their travel centers. We also already have public charging services to help our customers find and also to use the existing public charge points.”
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