Sweden's Volvo to make heavy EVs in Queensland as Brisbane shifts to electric truck production
Swedish truck giant Volvo has announced it will begin building electric heavy vehicles at its Wacol facility in Brisbane next year, marking a major turning point for Queensland 's industrial future.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Volvo bring truck production back to Brisbane.
The move comes after a landmark deal with logistics giant Linfox, which has ordered 30 electric trucks for tens of millions of dollars.
It's the biggest order of its kind in Australia and is set to power the company's supermarket deliveries.
'We have an endeavour to get to a place where we have vehicles that are completely zero emission and this is the start of it,' Linfox executive chairman Peter Fox said.
While the trucks are currently imported from Sweden, the company behind the seat belts we wear today will soon be shifting production locally — a significant win for Queensland's economy and Australia's push towards greener transport.
Volvo says the Wacol site, which has produced over 3000 trucks a year since 1972, is ready for the transition to start production next year.
'We can learn from Sweden and implement that here in Wacol next year,' President and CEO of Volvo Group Australia, Martin Merrick, said.
Drivers are already backing the shift.
'The drivers absolutely love them. They're fighting over who gets the access to driving the electric vehicles,' Fox said.
With a range of up to 250 kilometres per charge, these quiet haulers are set to cut emissions, but challenges remain.
There are only a few hundred electric heavy vehicles in the country, compared to over 160,000 electric cars.
The Australian Trucking Association is urging governments to step up.
'We do know we're one of the larger emitters probably in the top three so we to do what we can do,' said CEO Mathew Munro.
'We need more infrastructure in convenient locations.'
The push includes better charging access and financial incentives to help businesses switch gears faster.
'It's fantastic; it's Australian-made and green and yellow,' said Fox, referencing the Australian Made logo, symbolising local manufacturing and the environmental benefits of electric vehicles.
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