Category: Volvo Group

 Today Volvo Group CEO Martin Lundstedt, in his role as co-chair of the High-Level Advisory Group on Sustainable Transport, submitted a report to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon containing ten recommendations on how sustainable transport can advance sustainable development. The report calls for increased international development funding, supportive legislation and incentives to promote new transport technologies. The report also highlights ElectriCity, the Volvo Group’s full-electric bus route in the city of Göteborg, as an innovative collaboration in the field of new, clean public transport.

“Sustainable transport is a driver of sustainable development and a precondition for economic growth, eradicating poverty and combating climate change. The shift towards sustainable transport represents great opportunities for our industry. The Volvo Group will embrace these opportunities by developing new technologies and new business models and by working closely together with our customers and the entire value chain,” says Volvo Group CEO Martin Lundstedt.

The report delivers ten recommendations which include calls for increased international development funding, supportive legislation and incentives to promote new transport technologies. The report concludes that technology will drive progress and that all types of transport should be made as efficient as possible in the areas where they are most effective.

The report highlights a number of sustainable transport solutions, one being ElectriCity, the Volvo Group’s full-electric bus route in the city of Göteborg, which is described as an innovative collaboration in the field of new, clean public transport.

http://www.volvogroup.com/en-en/news/2016/oct/news-2348614.html

This is really amazing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwhyoUyJNoY

Volvo’s fully autonomous truck is the first in the world to be tested in operations deep underground in the Kristineberg Mine. The self-driving truck is part of a development project aimed at improving the transport flow and safety in the mine. The truck will cover a distance of 7 kilometres, reaching 1,320 metres underground in the narrow mine tunnels.

“This is the world’s first fully self-driving truck to operate under such tough conditions. It is a true challenge to ensure that everything works meticulously more than 1300 metres underground,” says Torbjörn Holmström, member of the Volvo Group Executive Board and Volvo Group Chief Technology Officer.

Volvo Group is now releasing a film showing the opportunities that open up with autonomous trucks. The film was recorded in harsh operating conditions in the Kristineberg Mine 100 kilometres from Arvidsjaur in northern Sweden. Torbjörn Holmström, who takes part in the film, wants to show how safe the truck is. He didn’t hesitate to stand in the middle of the mine gallery as the truck approached him.

“No matter what type of vehicle we develop, safety is always our primary concern and this also applies to self-driving vehicles. I was convinced the truck would stop but naturally I felt a knot in my stomach until the truck applied its brakes!”

http://www.volvogroup.com/group/global/en-gb/newsmedia/_layouts/CWP.Internet.VolvoCom/NewsItem.aspx?News.ItemId=152149&News.Language=en-gb

 

Under a SuperTruck II award announced by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Volvo Group North America is scheduled to receive $20 million in federal funding that it will use to improve the freight-moving efficiency of heavy-duty trucks. The Volvo Group and its partners will match the development funds dollar-for-dollar.

The Volvo Group’s team of researchers and engineers will use alternative engine designs and an integrated system approach to build a lightweight tractor-trailer concept that exceeds the freight efficiency goal of 100 percent improvement on a ton-mile-per-gallon basis compared with a 2009 baseline. The team also will demonstrate a powertrain capable of 55 percent brake thermal efficiency.

The Group will leverage its industry-leading expertise in vehicle development, along with established partnerships with advanced technology and trailer equipment vendors. It will also draw from the company’s legacy of innovation in the areas of energy efficiency, safety and environmental solutions.

The Volvo Group’s partners include Michelin Americas Research Company (tires), Wabash National (trailer), Metalsa (lightweight frame), Johnson-Matthey Inc. (exhaust aftertreatment system catalysts), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (exhaust aftertreatment system testing / analysis), Peloton Technology (connected vehicle / platooning), Pennsylvania State University (connected vehicle testing), Knight Transportation (long-haul fleet) and Wegmans Food Markets (regional-haul fleet).

http://www.volvogroup.com/group/global/en-gb/_layouts/CWP.Internet.VolvoCom/NewsItem.aspx?News.ItemId=152135&News.Language=en-gb

Improved underlying profitability on lower volumes
“In the second quarter we were able to continue the improvement of our underlying profitability despite declining sales, thanks to positive cost development. Sales decreased by 7% to SEK 78.9 billion. Despite this, the underlying operating income increased to SEK 6.1 billion, corresponding to an operating margin of 7.8%,”
– Martin Lundstedt, President and CEO –

Full report, see:

http://www.volvogroup.com/GROUP/GLOBAL/EN-GB/INVESTORS/REPORTS/INTERIM_REPORTS/PAGES/INTERIM_REPORTS.ASPX

 

After more than 20 years in the VW Group will Scania’s Head of Global Purchasing, Andrea Fuder, move to Volvo:

Andrea Fuder has been appointed a new member of Volvo’s Group Executive Board and Executive Vice President Group Trucks Purchasing, Volvo Group’s global purchasing organization. Andrea Fuder has more than 20 years of experience from similar roles in the Volkswagen Group.

http://www.volvogroup.com/group/global/en-gb/_layouts/CWP.Internet.VolvoCom/NewsItem.aspx?News.ItemId=151921&News.Language=en-gb/

 

Martin Lundstedt, Volvo Group President and CEO, makes some interesting statements on future goods and people transports in a recent interview with The China Post:

Also, we are facing a super opportunity brought on by the e-commerce boom, which is fueling the demand for modern logistics. E-commerce will drive the entire transport system forward, setting a high demand for punctuality.

Currently, we are working on an electricity project in Gothenburg where the first route for electric buses was opened in June. The electric bus is quiet, does not have any exhaust emissions, and is about 80% more energy efficient than a conventional diesel bus.

But what’s more important is about the system. When there is no noise and air pollution, we can have indoor stops and access to Wi-Fi. Buses will no longer be a means of transportation tool. Instead it will become an experience itself.

I believe a developed city is not a city where the poor have a chance to buy a car but the rich are using the public transportation. We want to be part of China’s green initiatives and help drive prosperity through transport and infrastructure solutions.

See the full article: http://www.chinapost.com.tw/china/ceo-talks/2016/05/09/465615/p2/Positive-attitude.htm