Volvo Cars doubles down on sustainability with a new Thailand-based battery repair centre.
Volvo Cars is taking another major step towards its ambitious sustainability goals with the imminent opening of a new battery repair centre in Thailand. The state-of-the-art facility, slated for a mid-2024 launch, will extend Volvo’s battery repair services to the crucial Asia-Pacific region as the Swedish automaker transitions to an all-electric vehicle lineup by 2025. This is on top of the company’s collaboration with CATL to turn old batteries into new ones.
“This new facility is part of our commitment to transform the entire process of making a Volvo car in a genuinely sustainable way,” said Chris Wailes, Managing Director of Volvo Car Thailand. “From renewable energy usage to increased recycled materials, we’re continuously implementing green initiatives across our operations.”
The new Thailand battery repair centre plays a vital role in Volvo’s overarching sustainability strategy. In partnership with Singapore’s TES, a global leader in sustainable battery lifecycle management, Volvo aims to reduce operational costs through circular economy principles. This includes offering lower insurance premiums and streamlined battery repair services.
Repairing and reusing EV batteries, rather than replacing them outright, represents a monumental sustainability win. It reduces resource extraction, minimizes waste, and lowers a vehicle’s overall carbon footprint. As electric vehicles proliferate, scalable battery repair solutions will become increasingly crucial.
Volvo’s sustainability efforts extend far beyond the new Thailand facility. The automaker has implemented widespread use of renewable energy across its manufacturing operations. It’s also significantly boosted the percentage of recycled materials, such as aluminum and plastics, used in new vehicle production.
Furthermore, Volvo plans to launch a nationwide mobile maintenance service for EVs in Thailand by 2025. This brings sustainable vehicle care directly to customers while reducing emissions from transporting cars to service centres.
The company’s green initiatives appear to be resonating with Thai consumers. Volvo Cars Thailand saw sales increase 24% year-over-year in 2023, with EVs comprising an impressive 56% of total volume.
As countries and corporations around the world establish increasingly ambitious sustainability targets, Volvo is positioning itself at the vanguard of green automotive manufacturing and vehicle lifecycle management. The new Thailand battery repair centre represents a significant milestone, but it’s just one component of Volvo’s holistic, multi-pronged effort to minimize its environmental impact.
From renewable energy and recycled materials to closed-loop battery repair and mobile maintenance services, Volvo is walking the walk when it comes to sustainable business practices. As the company charges ahead with an all-EV future, its pioneering green initiatives could set the standard for the entire automotive industry to follow.
