Volvo adopts Tesla-style megacasting for its next generation of EVs

Posted on
24 March 2022
By
Charles Morris

Volvo Cars has announced a new investment of 10 billion Swedish kronor ($1.07 billion) at its Torslanda manufacturing plant in Sweden, where it plans to produce the next generation of EVs. Over the next few years, the automaker will introduce several new technologies and manufacturing processes at the plant, including Tesla-leading technology of megacasting aluminum body parts.

Source: Volvo

Casting the key parts of the car’s floor structure as a single large aluminum part reduces vehicle weight and manufacturing complexity.

Volvo also plans to upgrade the Torslanda plant’s paint shop with new machinery and painting processes, which the automaker claims will reduce energy use and emissions. A new battery assembly plant will house the cells in the module and pack, and the assembly shop will be modified to accommodate EV-specific procedures such as attaching the battery pack to the vehicle structure.

The Torslanda plant, which opened in 1964, has an annual production capacity of 300,000 cars and employs about 6,500 people.

youtube: auto media

Volvo recently revealed plans for a joint venture with Northvolt, which will invest some SEK 30 billion to build a battery factory near Gothenburg. Construction will begin in 2023, and the plant is expected to open in 2025. Annual capacity will be up to 50 GWh – enough to equip 500,000 EVs.

“With these investments we take an important step towards our all-electric future and prepare us for an even more advanced and better electric Volvo,” said Volvo Cars Chief Executive Hakan Samuelsson. “Torslanda is our largest plant and will be instrumental in our ongoing transformation as we move towards becoming a pure electric car manufacturer by 2030.”

Javier Varela, Head of Engineering and Operations, said, “Our future as a company is fully electric and this requires a number of upgrades throughout the plant to ensure that Torslanda delivers premium electric cars of the highest quality. to continue building.”

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This article originally appeared in Charged. Author: Charles Morris. Source: via Volvo Green Car Report

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