Steyr to build Volta trucks in 2022

Volta zero-emissions trucks are to be assembled in Austria at the former MAN Truck & Bus plant in Steyr, by the newly-formed Steyr Automotive company, with production commencing before the end of next year.

Steyr Automotive was chosen thanks to “extensive experience of commercial vehicle manufacturing, existing manufacturing infrastructure and consequent speed to market,” Volta Trucks said.

Series production begins in late 2022, following customer trials of Pilot Fleet vehicles that will commence mid-next year.

The announcement to partner with Steyr Automotive provides Volta Trucks with more than 100 years of manufacturing experience building large commercial vehicles. Over time, the contract will create up to 500 jobs in the region in addition to an estimated 2,000 positions within the supply chain.

The confirmation of the manufacturing partner forms an integral part of the Volta Trucks Road-to-Zero Emissions strategy, released in May 2021. The strategy sees four Volta Zero models ranging from 7.5 to 19 tonnes, with more than 27,000 units built per year by 2025.

The Road-to-Zero Emissions strategy also confirmed that Volta Trucks planned to manufacture vehicles close to the markets in which they will be sold, reducing the environmental footprint of vehicle distribution. With London and Paris identified as the initial launch cities, and a Europe-first city-specific roll out strategy, the plant in Austria is perfectly situated close to the initial markets, supporting the accelerated roll-out of full-electric commercial vehicles to customers, Volta Trucks says.

Additional manufacturing plants are also already under consideration for launches in America and Asia.

Confirming the announcement, co-founder and chief technology officer of Volta Trucks, Kjell Waloen, said: “Building our trucks in Austria, in the heart of our European launch region, will accelerate our time to market and minimise the environmental footprint of our operations, supporting our sustainability ambitions – a key factor in our decision-making process. The partnership will now allow Volta Trucks to quickly ramp up our production as we look to meet the demands of our customers who need to replace their fleets with zero emission vehicles as soon as possible.”