Electric truck manufacturer Volta Trucks has started production of its new Volta Zero truck at the Steyr factory in Austria. Volta signed a manufacturing contract with Steyr in 2021 and the first of a series of second-generation ‘Production Verification’ prototypes, which form a pilot fleet of demonstration trucks, have started rolling off the production line.
These vehicles will be loaned to customers during Q4 2022 and early 2023, allowing fleet operators to build knowledge and understanding of how the first purpose-built full-electric medium duty commercial vehicle will integrate into their operations. The start of series production of customer specification vehicles is on track to start in early 2023.
Volta Trucks’ contract manufacturing facility is run by Steyr Automotive, formerly MAN Truck and Bus Austria. An announcement by Volta, explains Steyr Automotive was appointed in August 2021 following an extensive tender and based on their long experience of commercial vehicle manufacturing, existing infrastructure, and consequent speed to market.
Steyr Automotive has reserved a capacity of 14,000 vehicles per year for Volta Trucks from their total available production - the contract has a value of up to €1 billion over its lifetime.
”This first vehicle rolling off the line at our manufacturing plant in Steyr is the latest significant milestone on the Volta Trucks journey towards the start of production of customers’ vehicles,” said co-founder and chief manufacturing and logistics officer of Volta Trucks, Kjell Walöen. ”To have achieved this significant landmark in just 12 months is a testament to the pace that we are working at to deliver the safest and most sustainable trucks to urban streets, and the excellent collaboration we have with our partners at Steyr Automotive. Their team has used generations of premium truck-building experience to deliver the first Volta Zero off the production line on time, and to the highest quality standards.”
