The Volvo Group has revealed the world’s first vehicle made of “fossil-free” steel and has announced that more such vehicles will follow in 2022 in what will be a series of concept vehicles and components.
According to Volvo, the machine, a load carrier for use in mining and quarrying, was made using green steel produced by Swedish steel maker SSAB, and was produced in Volvo Construction Equipment’s facility in Braås, Sweden.

The carrier was unveiled at a green steel collaboration event yesterday in Gothenburg hosted by Melker Jernberg, president of Volvo CE, and Martin Lundstedt, president and CEO Volvo Group. During the premiere, which was broadcast online, attendees got to see the world’s first machine made of fossil-free steel. In addition, insights were also shared about yet another ground-breaking sustainable steel collaboration.

The EU commissioner for internal market, Thierry Breton, and the Swedish minister of enterprise and innovation, Ibrahim Baylan, joined the event together with Martin Lindqvist, CEO, SSAB, and other speakers.

Jernberg said: “Our ambition is to have fossil-free steel used across all our products, with a step-by-step approach. This machine is proof that we really can make fast progress, when we work together in strong partnerships, when we are determined to act and we enable our skilled people to contribute to building the world we want to live in. Not only for our generation, but for generations to come. Our team in Braås is understandably proud to help make this innovation happen.”

Lundstedt added: “This initiative with SSAB sets the benchmark for a fossil-free future. Just as the nations of the world come together at COP26 to address climate change, so too must organisations and industries work in collaboration to develop innovative new solutions for a greenhouse gas emission free future. Volvo Group is committed to pioneering partnerships such as this with SSAB to develop attractive, safe and efficient new vehicles and machines that pave the way for a more sustainable transport and infrastructure system adopted for the future.”

The Volvo Group has announced that it is committed to be climate-neutral and achieve net zero value chain greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, and is on the path towards developing sustainable transport and infrastructure solutions of the future. Along with the electrification of its vehicles and machines, Volvo is determined to reduce the carbon footprint of its entire supply chain and this latest innovation is one step forward on this path, said the Swedish giant.

SSAB CEO Lindqvist added: “Having the world´s first actual vehicle made using SSAB´s fossil-free steel is a true milestone. Our collaboration with the Volvo Group shows that green transition is possible and brings results. Together, we will continue reducing climate impact all the way to the end customer while ensuring that our customers get high-quality steel. We look forward to continuing to work with Volvo Group in research and development to produce more fossil-free steel products.”

The Volvo Group added that it considers a move towards green steel as an important step for its own operations as well as for the transport and infrastructure industries as a whole, particularly considering that around 70% of a truck’s weight comes from steel and cast iron, with the figure for Volvo machines even higher.

This first concept machine, produced at Volvo CE’s facility in Braås, is just the start, with smaller-scale series production planned by 2022, and mass production set to follow, said Volvo.