Volkswagen: Scania’s Europe cab production fully fossil-free

In an announcement made by Volkswagen, its brand Scania will enter 2021 fully fossil-free at its cab production plant in Oskarshamn, Sweden.

The announcement marks the brand’s first major production plant to successfully phase out carbon emitting production elements.

With 2015 as its baseline year, Scania has committed - in line with the Science Based Target initiative - to halve its own carbon emissions by 2025, as well as reduce its emissions from the use of its products by 20%. 

Efforts are now being made by the brand to reach its targets, with its Oskarshamn plant being not only first to ‘cross the finishing line’ but exceeds the set target.

“This is a major step, not only for us here in Oskarshamn but for Scania as a whole. And we’re glad that we’ve been able to contribute to the target,” commented Roger Blezell, Plant Manager, Scania. 

Scania’s Oskarshamn plant manufactures 70 000 cabs a year, primarily for its European assembly plant in France, the Netherlands and Sweden. Its highly automated process includes five steps: pressing, bodywork, primer painting, topcoat painting and assembly.

The largest contribution to meet its targets was the conversion of its three ovens, – water drying, powder and seam sealing ­– for the primer painting process from fossil diesel to the biofuel RME (Rapeseed Methyl Ester), which alone reduced its impact by 60%.

“The greatest challenge with the RME project was to obtain cost-neutrality. Normally, what’s good for the environment is also good for your wallet but in this case it’s more expensive. Despite that, we’ve chosen to implement the project and instead recover the added cost through other energy-saving measures and higher productivity,” commented Pernilla Zackrisson, Oskarshamn’s Sustainability Manager.

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