Latest News

Scania CEO says committed to Northvolt regardless of cutbacks, shipment problems

Scania owner Traton is committed to utilizing Sweden's Northvolt as the truckmaker's single battery provider regardless of recent production and shipment issues, its CEO stated on Monday.

Scania needed to hold off a ramp-up of its battery-electric truck production by a year and hold-up shipments to consumers due to the troubles at Northvolt, Europe's leading battery supplier.

The worst thing was that we needed to go back to all the customers and state 'Sorry, we can not deliver,' Christian Levin, who is CEO of both Traton and Scania, told Reuters at the IAA Transport truck program in Hanover.

Volkswagen is among Northvolt's largest investors and is the moms and dad company of Traton.

Asked about the setbacks at Northvolt, which suddenly decided to diminish operations and cut jobs, Levin said Traton is in close contact with the supplier and trying to support it but decreased to comment on Traton's contractual relationship.

Scania told Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet in May that it was not able to ship countless electric trucks last year due to Northvolt's problems, highlighting a widespread concern.

Now Traton and Northvolt have actually created a brand-new strategy for Scania that is staying up to date with customers' needs, Levin stated, including it is now delivering batteries in line with the strategy.

Northvolt and Volkswagen entered a $14 billion supply agreement in 2021 covering the next ten years.

A Volkswagen representative decreased to comment on its investments. Northvolt was not readily available for comment.

The battery maker, which has $15 billion in equity and financial obligation funding from organizations consisting of Goldman Sachs and BlackRock, filings reveal, has been trying to raise more cash to fund its ramp-up.

Scania prepares that half of its lorry sales will originate from electric trucks by 2030. It assembles batteries in a brand-new assembly plant in its hometown of Sodertalje using products from Northvolt.

(source: Reuters)