Volta Trucks, the new all-electric commercial vehicle manufacturer and services provider, has announced the start of production of its 16-tonne all-electric Volta Zero at ithe Steyr Automotive factory, in Steyr, Austria.
The production of the Volta Zero follows the successful completion of Design Verification and Production Validation prototypes in 2022 and follows the announcement the company secured European type approvla for the product last month. The first series production customer-specification vehicles have now entered the production line and will be used for the Volta Zero Driving Experience Programme. This programme allows fleet operators to test-drive the production-specification all-electric medium-duty truck and understand how it will integrate into their operations. The trucks produced will undergo rigorous quality assurance and testing before the first trucks are expected to be delivered to customers in Q3, 2023.
Volta welcomed Leonore Gewessler, the Austrian Minister of Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation, and Technology, to the manufacturing facility in Steyr to witness the start of production. Minister Gewessler highlighted the opportunities for Austria and Europe in e-mobility, including climate protection, improved quality of life in cities, and future-proof jobs.
Steyr Automotive was appointed Volta’s manufacturing partner in August 2021 based on its extensive experience in commercial vehicle manufacturing, existing facilities, and speed to market. Steyr Automotive has reserved a capacity of up to 14,000 vehicles per year for Volta trucks, and the company plans to ramp up production volumes over the coming years, potentially creating over 700 jobs and an estimated 2,000 positions within the supply chain.
Kjell Walöen, Co-Founder and Chief Manufacturing and Logistics Officer of Volta Trucks, described the start of production as a substantial milestone for the company. He praised the industry-leading pace to market set by Volta Trucks and credited the skilled and driven professionals in the company and its partners for this achievement.
