On 11 April 2025, Scania announced the acquisition of the industrial division of Northvolt Systems. The deal includes a production facility in Poland, a research and development centre in Sweden, and a team of around 260 employees. This move strengthens Scania’s position in the off-road segment, which encompasses machinery operating in complex environments such as construction, mining and materials handling. The acquired division will become part of Scania’s Power Solutions unit, contributing to the development of complete electrified solutions.
The Polish and Swedish sites develop and assemble advanced battery systems tailored for vehicles and machinery operating under harsh conditions. Among the most notable solutions is Voltpack Core, designed to meet the demands of heavy industry. The acquired company will continue to operate autonomously under Scania Ventures and New Business, a structure established to develop complementary and transformative activities that can enhance the group’s long-term competitiveness.
This acquisition stems from the failure of Northvolt Systems, formalised in March 2025. The company was founded in 2015 in Stockholm by Peter Carlsson and Paolo Cerruti, two former Tesla executives. Initially known as SGF Energy, it had the ambitious goal of becoming a central player in European lithium-ion battery production for electric vehicles, aiming to reduce Europe’s reliance on Asian imports, particularly from China. In 2017, the company changed its name to Northvolt and began attracting significant investment. In 2019, the European Investment Bank granted a €350 million loan and, later that year, major players such as Volkswagen, BMW, Goldman Sachs and others invested roughly one billion dollars. Northvolt was then able to build its first production plant in Skellefteå, Sweden, aiming to start manufacturing in 2021. The company continued to expand, planning further factories in Germany, Poland, North America and Canada.
However, despite its ambitious plans and initial financial backing, production at the Skellefteå plant, which began in 2021, never reached the expected levels. Issues related to material quality and dependence on external suppliers—such as cathodes imported from China—damaged the company’s reputation.
The crisis in the electric vehicle sector in 2024 further worsened the situation. BMW cancelled a €2 billion order due to delivery delays, while Northvolt failed to secure a crucial $5 billion investment needed to expand its operations. Meanwhile, the company’s debt soared to an alarming €7.5 billion. In November 2024, Northvolt filed for creditor protection in the United States under Chapter 11, followed by a final bankruptcy declaration in Sweden on 12 March 2025.
