Exclusive: Scania relaunches Northvolt's 'crown jewel' – this is what they're working on

The Tomteboda facility – Northvolt’s last remaining operational site after the company’s collapse – houses an office and a prototype lab for battery development and testing, staffed by around 100 employees.

Meanwhile, production runs out of Gdańsk, Poland, also part of the acquisition. Scania reportedly paid €5.6m in cash and assumed €9.9m in debt during its take over of the facility, according to Swedish news outlet Dagens Industri.

Originally established within Northvolt in 2019, the business already has already produced 3,500 batteries. Scania aims to double that number within two years.

"We’ve worked hard to ensure what Northvolt built not only survives but can hopefully scale even faster," said Gustaf Sundell, head of ventures and new business at Scania Group, during a press briefing Friday.

Off-road focus

The new unit sits within Scania’s Power Solutions division, which develops engines and energy systems for industrial and marine vehicles. The batteries target off-road applications, designed to withstand demanding conditions from underground mines to open seas.

Key challenges include improving performance, reducing charging times, extending lifespan, and cutting costs, the company said.

Software and data at the core

Beyond hardware, Scania is investing heavily in software and data-driven services. By analysing data from existing batteries, the company aims to advise customers on extending lifespan and maximising usage.

"We want to reach a point where we can say: use this battery in this way, and it can last another five years without replacement," said Chris Wiak, CTO at Scania Industrial Batteries. "It’s about pushing batteries to their full potential."

Global competition, especially from Asia, remains fierce. Scania is betting that its edge will come from long-term service and support, not just selling batteries.

"Almost all original manufacturers are investing in electrification," said Sara Hermansson, head of Power Solutions at Scania. "We’re still in an early phase, but the potential to grow is enormous."