Volvo Group has created Volvo Autonomous Solutions to accelerate the development, commercialization and sales of autonomous transport solutions.
This will enable the Volvo Group to meet a growing demand and to offer solutions to customers in segments such as mining, ports and transport between logistics centers, as a complement to today's products and services.
Autonomous transport solutions, based on self-driving and connectivity technologies, are well-suited for applications where there is a need to move large volumes of goods and material on pre-defined routes, in repetitive flows, according to Volvo Group. In such situations, autonomous transport solutions can create value for customers by contributing to improved flexibility, delivery precision and productivity.
"We have experienced a significant increase in inquiries from customers. With the Volvo Group's wide range of offerings and broad experience of different applications, we have a unique opportunity to offer solutions that meet their specific needs,” said Martin Lundstedt, president and CEO. “It is a logical next step for us to gather expertise and resources in a new business area with profit and loss responsibility to take autonomous transport solutions to the next level."
The Volvo Group has already demonstrated several different autonomous transport solutions.
In the Electric Site project, material handling in a quarry was automated and electrified. The result was a safer working environment and a reduction of operator costs by 40 percent and of carbon dioxide emissions by 98 percent, according to Volvo Group.
At the Brønnøy Kalk mine in Norway, autonomous Volvo FH trucks will be used in commercial operation to transport limestone along a five-kilometer (three mile) stretch.
Another pioneering initiative is the self-driving, connected and electric vehicle Vera. In its first assignment Vera will form part of an integrated solution to transport goods from a logistics center to a port terminal in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Volvo Autonomous Solutions will constitute a new business area as of Jan. 1, 2020. Its financial results will be reported as part of the Truck segment. The recruitment process for the position as head of Volvo Autonomous Solutions has commenced.
