Volvo Group Australia has rolled the first Australian-made electric trucks off its production line in Wacol, Queensland.
These are the first electric trucks manufactured in Australia by an original equipment manufacturer (OEM).
The achievement was marked at an event attended by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Roger Alm, executive vice president of Volvo Group and President of Volvo Trucks, Volvo Group Australia president and CEO Martin Merrick, Linfox CEO Mark Mazurek, Australian Made Campaign CEO Ben Lazzaro, and Electric Vehicle Council CEO Julie Delvecchio.
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The trucks were built at the same Wacol facility where Volvo has manufactured trucks for Australian conditions for more than 50 years.
To prepare the local team, Volvo brought in international experts to train and upskill Australian workers, who are now able to build world-class Volvo electric trucks and lay the foundation for future production as demand grows.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, “My Government is backing a future made in Australia—investing in local jobs, manufacturing and industry.
“We have all the resources to be a clean energy superpower—under the ground and in the sky—and projects like this show just what’s possible.
“Electric-made trucks built right here in Brisbane will keep Australia moving now and into the future.”
Volvo Group Australia president and CEO Martin Merrick said, “This is a proud day for Volvo Trucks and for Australian manufacturing.
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“For more than 50 years we have built Volvo trucks for Australian conditions here in Wacol, and today we have built the first electric truck ever manufactured by an OEM in this country.
“It proves what our people and our facilities are capable of. These trucks were built right here by an Australian team we have trained to a global standard. This is proof of concept, and a foundation we are ready to build on.”
