Volvo’s new Slovakia plant will use the automaker’s most superior platform when it begins manufacturing in 2026.
“It will be a successor to SPA2,” Geert Bruyneel, Volvo’s head of worldwide manufacturing, informed Automotive News Europe.
SPA2 is an electric-only structure that may underpin the automaker’s forthcoming flagship SUV in addition to the Polestar 3. Both battery-propelled premium massive SUVs will go into manufacturing later this yr at Volvo’s U.S. manufacturing unit close to Charleston, South Carolina.
Bruyneel and Volvo’s head of commercial technique, Erik Severinson, declined to say which automotive could be made on the new Kosice plant, however the automaker makes use of the present era of SPA (quick for scalable product structure) on fashions akin to XC90 SUV and its world best-seller, the XC60 premium midize SUV.
Volvo’s subsequent flagship crossover, which is able to take over a task at the moment held by XC90, will likely be full-electric and will pay homage to the Swedish automaker’s lineage.
Volvo has not revealed the title of the primary mannequin that may use SPA2, however has mentioned it is going to deviate from utilizing alphanumeric names akin to XC90 and XC60 on future automobiles.
Volvo filed for trademark safety final October for the title Embla, in line with Australian information web site Drive. In Norse mythology, Embla is the title of the primary girl.
The additional advanced model of SPA2 deliberate for Kosice will likely be finished by Volvo, which is able to proceed to share it with sibling manufacturers owned by Zhejiang Geely Holding.
“This is the next generation in our technology journey,” Severinson, informed ANE.
Bruyneel mentioned that journey consists of utilizing megacasting for giant aluminum physique elements.
Volvo’s largest and oldest automotive plant, positioned in Torslanda, Sweden, will likely be prepared for megacasting by 2025, which coincides with the manufacturing begin for the primary full-electric automotive on the manufacturing unit.
Volvo government Mikael Fermer informed ANE earlier this yr that switching to the brand new method for automotive building “is the biggest technology shift since we switched from wood to steel [for car bodies].”
Bruyneel mentioned Volvo will look to reflect Torslanda within the transfer to megacasting, with an eye fixed towards taking the techique, which is already utilized by Tesla, to an excellent larger stage on the Slovakia plant.
“The new plant in Slovakia gives us a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to put the most efficient state-of-the-art factory in place,” Bruyneel mentioned.
When requested whether or not Volvo plans so as to add battery or electrical motor manufacturing on the manufacturing unit, Bruyneel mentioned that whereas these selections nonetheless must be made: “The aim is to re-think and build an EV plant from scratch and try to integrated as much of that type of production as possible.” He added that Volvo has room in Kosice to develop if wanted.
Source: europe.autonews.com
