As the global transportation industry moves toward a more sustainable and technologically advanced future, Volvo Group is at the forefront of this transformation. In an exclusive conversation with Utkarsh Agarwal, Editorial Lead of BW Auto World, Maria Ebbesson, Vice President of Vehicle Engineering at Volvo Group, shares insights into the company’s bold vision for 2040—where trucks will be 100 per cent safe, 100 per cent fossil-free, and 100 per cent productive. She discusses the role of emerging powertrains like battery-electric and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, the challenges of infrastructure and green energy access, and how Volvo’s India-based R&D is shaping the future of mobility. With a focus on AI-driven safety, autonomous transport, and high-efficiency operations, Volvo is engineering a smarter, greener, and safer road ahead.
Read the excerpts below
How is Volvo Group integrating sustainability into vehicle engineering, and what role do emerging powertrain technologies like electric, hydrogen play in reducing the environmental footprint?
Beyond Vehicle Engineering, which is just one among many engineering disciplines that we have here at Bangalore, sustainability is a core tenet in all our engineering and operations. Our long-term ambition remains building 100 per cent safe, 100 per cent fossil-free, and 100 per cent productive vehicles by 2040. To achieve this, we are building a mixed portfolio of vehicles that include Battery Electric Vehicles, Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles, and Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles.
What are the biggest challenges in making commercial vehicles fully sustainable, and how is Volvo Group tackling them?
The transformation to sustainable transport systems requires several factors to be in place. Products and services offering is one factor. For the transition to happen, other factors beyond the vehicle itself need to be in place as well. Here we see several challenges, such as infrastructure, access to green energy, and the total cost of ownership. Infrastructure is about access to charging and fueling stations with ‘green’ fuel or electricity coming from renewable sources. Finally, the cost of ownership needs to be competitive as our customers ultimately are running a business that needs to be profitable to thrive and grow.
How does Volvo Group’s India tech ecosystem support the company’s larger sustainability and electrification goals?
Sustainability should be a collective agenda driven by more than just us, the OEMs. It needs all-round participation from the suppliers, partners, and the government. If ‘tech ecosystem’ refers to the technologies being developed here in India, a lot of the R&D being carried out at the Volvo Group Bangalore R&D center explores the cutting edge of the technologies we are aiming to have implemented by 2040.
Safety has always been a key pillar for Volvo. Can you highlight some of the latest safety technologies developed at Volvo Group?
The European consumer test organisation Euro NCAP has for the first time ever assessed the safety of heavy-duty trucks. Volvo Trucks’ best-selling models, the Volvo FH, and the Volvo FM, both received the top rating of five stars. At Volvo Group, our engineering efforts span adaptive cruise control, emergency braking, and comprehensive warning systems to enhance road safety. These technologies are designed to respond effectively to diverse scenarios, prioritizing driver and passenger protection.
AI is the buzzword today. How does Volvo Group leverage AI to enhance vehicle safety and efficiency?
Leveraging digitalisation and extensive data processing, Volvo Group develops systems such as Collision warning with Emergency Brake, Adaptive Cruise Control and Volvo Dynamic Steering by anticipating various real-world situations and virtually recreating them for rigorous testing before market release. This ensures robust performance and safety under real-world conditions. These features are already deployed in Volvo Group’s products globally and are used in features like Electronic Stability control with Stability Assist, Lane Keeping Assist and Stretch Braking that helps prevent the trailer from pushing the truck, causing a jack-knife effect.
With the shift to electric and autonomous trucks, what major transformations can we expect in the transportation industry in the next decade?
India is investing significantly in infrastructure, opening new opportunities for more efficient transport solutions. Although the shift to electric and autonomous transport may take its due time, there are great opportunities in better up-time, higher average speed and payload, round-the-clock operation (which means utilising the truck for longer with different drivers operating it in shifts), and operation with fossil-free fuels that can transform transport solutions in India. An example for better payload management can be seen in the recent ‘Road Train’ launched in India. A Road Train consists of a tractor unit towing two or more trailers, significantly increasing cargo capacity.
What is the company’s long-term vision for expanding its tech capabilities?
Volvo Group has a comprehensive range of engineering functions in India, including Vehicle Engineering, Vehicle Technology, Powertrain Engineering, and Electromobility (for electric vehicles), altogether comprising close to 2000 highly skilled engineers. The teams work on the entire truck architecture and components, from the cabin and chassis to advanced electrical systems, ECUs, and driver technologies. Volvo Group leverages India's strong engineering talent, a significant asset for the company’s operations.
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