Volvo is pulling out all the stops to prepare its oldest and largest factory, Torslanda in Gothenburg, for the production of electric cars. The Swedes are also focusing on a new production method and improved logistics.
The financial injection in the factory amounts to 10 billion Swedish kronor, converted more than €960 million. That money comes on top of the €2.9 billion that Volvo is investing with Northvolt in the construction of a new battery factory and research center for EV batteries. That battery factory will be located near Torslanda. The logistics of the existing factory must be overhauled to be able to properly process the supply of the batteries. An extra piece will also be added to the factory where the battery pack will be integrated into the floor of the car. The production lines themselves, in turn, will also be adapted to the upcoming EVs.
Volvo is also investing in a new production method: ‘mega casting’. This technique is already being used by Tesla with the Model Y, where the front and rear are made from a single piece of aluminum. Volvo also wants to apply this to the next generation of models. Volvo mainly wants to use the floor of the cars, which then consists of a single piece of aluminum. According to Volvo, this ensures that you can create more space in the car and that the complexity of manufacturing is a lot lower. In addition, the question remains to what extent the one-piece floor can be replaced in the event of an accident. Volvo will have to answer this when the models are actually introduced.
Torslanda has been in business since 1964 and has an annual production capacity of 300,000 cars. The factory employs 6,500 people. The renovations to the factory will take place ‘in the coming years’. Volvo does not give an end date for the work.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl