Volvo plans to open a new tech hub in Poland before 2023 ends, as reported by Electrek. The site will be in Krakow and will serve as a key software development center for Volvo to support its plans to go all-electric by 2030.
Volvo has made significant steps to become an entirely-EV brand by the end of the decade. While doing so, the automaker is also developing technology to help with the transition to fully electric.
Biggest Overhaul Soon
Volvo has been acquired by Geely Holding Group in 2010, and is now preparing for its largest overhaul to convert its entire lineup of base models to BEVs over the next several years. Their current lineup is still small, but it is growing with their 2022 sales that have doubled.
Despite the supply chain issues, Volvo Cars is confident that its EV sales will continue to grow. The upcoming EX90 will boost the brand's global sales as they hail it as the safest vehicle the company has ever produced.
The company also plans to become a global leader in new EV technology, specifically in in-house software development.
Most of the software technology that we will see in future Volvo EVs will come from Poland.
Why Poland?
Krakow in Poland is the second-largest city in the country. Choosing this Poland city is due to the already established presence of Volvo in the area. The company believes that setting up shop in this particular city puts them ahead of their competitors. Hence, this will enable them to take advantage of the untapped talent pool.
The new tech hub will take full responsibility of the development of complete key features for new BEVs, which include core safety, perception, driver assistance, and autonomous driving capabilities.
EVs are becoming more software-defined, which sets the stage for automakers to gain a larger segment of the market by delivering cars and trucks that are technologically advanced but also use over-the-air (OTA) updates.
Therefore, Volvo Cars are putting more effort into the new Tech Hub and its engineering team to boost the transformation into an EV software leader.
Volvo Cars expected the new hub to open before the end of 2023 with 120 employees before expanding between 500 and 600 staff in Krakow by mid-decade.
Once operational, the Krakow Tech Hub will join Volvo's current hubs in Lund and Stockholm in Sweden. Currently, they are recruiting the best engineering minds. Ultimately, the Krakow Tech Hub will help Volvo Cars become a leader in the electric vehicle software space, which will help the company maintain its competitive edge in the automotive industry.
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