Swedish truck manufacturer Scania is in discussions with various battery cell producers to secure supplies for its future electric vehicle (EV) lineup, while maintaining its partnership with Swedish battery maker Northvolt, CEO Christian Levin revealed in an interview with Reuters.
Scania, part of Volkswagen-owned Traton Group, has set a target for half of its vehicle sales to be electric by 2030, though current sales remain under 1%, hindered by production and delivery challenges at Northvolt.
“We talk to everyone in order to ensure we do not face disruptions if Northvolt encounters issues,” Levin said, without naming the alternative suppliers. Despite the talks, Levin emphasized the company’s continued support for Northvolt, which he described as producing “the only green cell in the industry.”
Scania has long intended to diversify its supply chain in anticipation of scaling up EV production, Levin added. Volkswagen, Northvolt’s largest shareholder with a 21% stake, recently saw its investment chief step down from Northvolt’s board.
While Volkswagen declined to comment on the development, the two companies remain bound by a $14 billion, 10-year supply agreement signed in 2021.
Levin, speaking during a visit to Japan and China, highlighted broader challenges to the global transition to green technology, including insufficient political support.
He expressed concern over the pace of the transformation and inconsistent global policies, calling for more robust action to align with the industry’s significant investments.