Volvo turns cars into “computers on wheels”. It will employ 600 people in Poland
Volvo is set to establish its new research and development center in Krakow, which will serve as a critical software development hub and contribute to the execution of the Swedish automaker’s strategy. Through in-house software development, Volvo is striving to achieve its goal of becoming an all-electric brand and a technology leader by 2030. The announcement of this new project was made by Volvo Cars’ President, Jim Rowan, during his visit to Poland.
The newly established tech hub will assume complete responsibility for developing significant and comprehensive features in Volvo’s new all-electric cars, which are a critical component of the automaker’s strategy. Engineers based in Krakow will collaborate with a global talent pool to expedite innovation by creating software for essential areas such as fundamental safety technology, driver assistance algorithms, perception, and autonomous driving software.
In addition to the above, Volvo’s engineering team in Krakow will also focus on developing next-generation connectivity features and supporting all development work through data analytics.
Volvo will employ up to 600 people in Krakow
Volvo plans to launch the new Tech Hub in Krakow by the end of this year, with an initial recruitment goal of 120 engineers. By the mid-decade, the automaker aims to employ between 500-600 people in Krakow, who will collaborate with major engineering centers in China and Sweden as well as other centers globally.
In the previous year, Volvo introduced its all-electric SUV, the EX90, which represents the future of cars and is entirely software-driven. The Swedish automaker envisions the vehicles of the future as electric cars sold primarily online, fueled by advanced host computers running proprietary software that improves over time via regular software updates.
Internal software development is crucial for Volvo to achieve its strategic goals of becoming a leader in new technologies and a fully electric car brand by 2030.
According to Volvo CEO Jim Rowan, the company is purpose- and technology-driven, and their next generation of vehicles will be more than just transportation. They will be computers on wheels that can be updated over the air with new software. Therefore, the success of Volvo’s future relies on the development of its own software capabilities and the technology hub in Krakow.
Krakow is the right place for a new investment
Volvo has had a presence in Poland for about 30 years, and Krakow is an up-and-coming technology hub in the country, with a large network of tech firms in the area. Additionally, Krakow has a well-established telecommunications industry, which has served as a recruiting pool for other locations where Volvo has established its engineering centers.
Volvo’s Chief People Officer, Hanna Fager, commented:
“We aim to attract and hire the best talent globally by having a presence in strategically significant locations. The new Tech Hub in Krakow is an excellent example of this.”
Arkadiusz Nowiński, Senior Vice President Volvo Cars and Head of EMEA, expressed his enthusiasm for the new TechHub in Krakow, stating that although the EMEA region covers over 60 countries, Poland holds a special place in his heart. He believes that the TechHub will mark a new chapter in Volvo Cars’ presence in Poland, providing employees with access to the latest technologies and opportunities to develop and improve them.
At present, Volvo runs Tech Hubs in Stockholm and Lund, Sweden, and Bangalore, India. Additionally, the automaker has significant engineering centers located in Gothenburg, Sweden, and Shanghai, China.
