Sweden / USA - Volvo Group of Gothenburg, Sweden has announced investment of USD33m during a groundbreaking ceremony by Volvo Trucks North America Inc at one of its main production sites in Hagerstown, Maryland on June 9. The new facility is to be called the Volvo Propulsion Lab (VPL) and it will expand its existing powertrain research and development site. It is scheduled to open in the second quarter of 2023. 

Volvo Group stated the VPL is to be the first facility in North America to allow comprehensive testing of current and future products for Volvo Trucks, Mack Trucks, Prévost and Volvo Bus to meet evolving government regulations and ensure high performance on the diverse North American roadways. Housed under one roof, the lab will consist of two environmental chambers. One chamber will have a chassis dyno capable of emissions measurements and simulating extreme-weather and altitude conditions. The second will offer testing of fully operative vehicles, including highway and vocational trucks, as well as coaches and buses, for starting in a variety of weather conditions.