Volvo will use the money awarded by the EU’s innovation fund to slash carbon emissions from its manufacturing processes at Skövde by as much as 88%.

The joint venture’s primary objective will be to build the “non-differentiating core” of the software-defined truck: a standardised digital platform and dedicated commercial vehicle operating system which will be open to Daimler and Volvo’s competitors.

Gerber replaces Carlos Ribeiro, who is now responsible VFS’s operations in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

The Volvo Group - which includes Renault Trucks, Mack Trucks, Prevost, and Nova Bus - saw a slight decline in its financial results across the board, with its net sales falling by 3% to SEK527bn (approximately EUR46bn) in 2024.

Waabi’s self-driving system, ‘Waabi Driver’, will be vertically integrated with Volvo Group NA’s autonomous-ready trucks on the production line at New River Valley in Dublin, Virginia, USA.

Headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, and with offices in Gothenburg, Sweden and Brescia, Italy, Cespira was formed by the two companies to commercialise Westport’s high-pressure direct injection technology.

Representing a planned total investment of USD700m, the Monterrey plant is intended to supplement existing Volvo Group North America and Mack Trucks manufacturing activities across the border in the United States.

The Series B investments bring the Canadian startup’s total invested capital to USD280m.

By combining their assets and capital, the two European manufacturers will ultimately produce “software-defined” trucks which are capable of continually receiving updates over-the-air.

Electric vans developed under the joint venture, called 'Flexis SAS', will be serially manufactured at Sandouville, where Renault has produced over a million mid-sized vans (‘Trafic’) since it opened ten years ago.

The Swedish manufacturer announced its financial results for 2023, reporting net sales of SEK552.8bn and an adjusted operating income of SEK77.6bn.

Volvo says there is a burgeoning market in China for its heavy truck models, particularly in the premium segment.