Gothenburg Welcomes Volvo Cars' Most Advanced Software Facility
October 19 2023,
A Milestone in Automotive Innovation
In an emphatic commitment to software excellence and electric mobility, Volvo Cars has inaugurated its latest facility—a 22,000-square-meter software testing center in Gothenburg, Sweden. Funded by an initial SEK 300 million investment, the new site stands out as the largest and most capable in Volvo’s existing network of Tech Hubs and engineering centers around the globe.
Anders Bell, Global Head of R&D at Volvo, expressed high expectations for the center, emphasizing its role as a 24/7 hub for global software testing activities. Beginning with an initial staff of about 100, the facility is projected to triple its workforce as operations scale up. When at full capacity, it will house nearly 500 testing rigs and digital test setups, a significant uptick from the current 200.
Charging Ahead in EV Software Development
Alwin Bakkenes, Volvo’s Global Head of Software Engineering, spotlighted the facility's role in propelling key innovations, particularly in safety mechanisms and autonomous driving technology. This advancement aligns perfectly with Volvo's mission of achieving a fully electric vehicle fleet by 2030. Models like the EX90 and EX30 SUVs, which already employ software-defined functionalities, will particularly benefit from the innovations originating from this facility.
This groundbreaking investment in Gothenburg adds momentum to Volvo’s evolving global network, which recently saw the addition of a Tech Hub in Singapore and anticipates another in Krakow, Poland. As the industry shifts, Volvo is clearly maneuvering to lead the charge in both software and electric vehicle technology.
