Scania to build electric trucks in France
The first project concerns Angers in western France. Scania plans to invest 70 million euros in expanding the existing facility and converting assembly lines for the production of battery-electric trucks. According to the company, the investment is intended to ‘strengthen its capacity for the transition to an electrified transport system in Europe’. Scania also says it aims to reinforce its industrial presence in France.The French government recently presented its electrification strategy and is working with industry to drive reindustrialisation in key sectors such as electric mobility.According to Scania, the Angers plant has been part of the company’s production network for more than 30 years and plays an important role in supplying customers in France and across Europe. More specifically, Angers is one of Scania’s three major assembly plants in Europe. ‘The site has consistently demonstrated strong industrial performance and adaptability, making it a recognised and reliable contributor within Scania’s production network,’ the accompanying press release states.However, Scania has not disclosed how many battery-electric trucks it plans to produce in Angers in the future. The company also has not explained how electric truck production will be integrated into the existing assembly lines. Current indications suggest that Scania is likely to implement a flexible production system capable of building both combustion-engine and battery-electric trucks on the same line.“This investment reflects our ambition to secure the long-term future of the Angers site while increasing its flexibility. We are preparing for the future, but we must remain able to adapt to changing volumes and market dynamics. The site will be capable of assembling both combustion engine and electric trucks, ensuring we can respond to evolving customer demand,” said Petrus Sundvall, President of Scania Production Angers.Christian Levin, President and CEO of Scania, emphasises that the transition to an electrified transport system is not just about the vehicles themselves. “It is about creating the conditions that enable transport operators to invest with confidence. Access to charging infrastructure, renewable electricity and predictable policy frameworks will be critical to accelerating the shift. Scania is investing to support this transition, but lasting progress will depend on how quickly the entire transport ecosystem can move forward together.”Levin highlighted that while the transformation of heavy-duty transport is a key component of Europe’s climate goals, all stakeholders—from vehicle manufacturers and transport companies to energy providers, infrastructure developers, and policymakers—must collaborate to achieve it.Scania’s management assures that the company will continue to invest across its entire value chain to enable this transformation—’including vehicle technology, battery systems, industrial capabilities and charging solutions.’ CEO Levin views the integration of battery-electric truck production in Angers as a concrete example of how Scania is building this capacity. “This investment underscores Scania’s commitment to contributing to this transformation,” the Scania chief reiterates.Meanwhile, Scania is introducing a new niche product for emergency vehicles: a battery-electric CrewCab (double cab) with a 4×2 axle configuration. The new CP31L is designed ‘for demanding emergency operations,’ features an installed battery capacity of 356 kWh, and a state-of-charge (SoC) range of 90 per cent.According to Scania, the new CrewCab was designed with open frame sides, offering flexible bodywork options. This allows it to be adapted to a wide range of customer applications and operational requirements. Louise Johansson, Solutions Manager at Scania Commercial responsible for this area, commented: “The addition of this new cab for battery-electric power underlines our commitment to supporting the electrification of our customers’ fleets – combining sustainability, operational reliability and long-term profitability.”scania.com (Angers plant), scania.com (CP31L)
