Scania closes in Södertälje “transitions to a new world” – where electric trucks are built

VEHICLE

The truck manufacturer Scania is now rebuilding its production in Södertälje to make electric trucks in the future. During the summer, not a single truck will roll out of the factory. Between 700 and 800 employees will be trained for the new production.

Erik Bratthall, press manager at Scania, calls the stop, the rebuilding and the training in Södertälje a transition to a completely new world.

– This is a huge change. Both for the employees and for Södertälje, he says.

The new production focus has cost around SEK 3 billion, according to Bratthall, and in the future both electric trucks and fossil trucks will be able to be manufactured.

But a major rebuild is required, and therefore production is halted in the chassis assembly, where the trucks are assembled, from Thursday 25 May until September.

– During four months, we will work in three shifts demolishing and building new tools. At the same time, the staff receives training in the new tools that can produce both electric trucks and fossil trucks.

Scania has built a battery factory in Södertälje, and it will also be commissioned in September.

Until then, Scania’s production will be increased elsewhere, such as in France, he says.

– By 2030, the goal is for half of the trucks made here to be electric trucks, says Erik Bratthall.