The joint venture, with headquarters planned for Gothenburg, Sweden, will develop a standardised software platform and operating system. This will act as the foundation for future digital features in lorries, allowing both Daimler Truck and Volvo Group to build upon it and offer unique functionalities to their customers.
The collaboration promises several benefits. By working together, Daimler Truck and Volvo Group expect to significantly speed up the creation and implementation of new digital features for lorries. Sharing resources and development efforts is expected to lead to a more efficient process, potentially lowering costs for both companies. The venture hopes to establish their platform as the industry standard, potentially benefiting other manufacturers who could choose to adopt it. This widespread adoption could lead to faster innovation across the trucking industry.
The core objective of the collaboration, however, remains customer focus. The standardised platform is expected to allow for the development of features that can optimise routes, improve maintenance scheduling, and provide other benefits for fleet operators, ultimately leading to an improved experience and increased efficiency for trucking companies.
Competition remains an important aspect. Daimler Truck and Volvo Group will continue to be competitors in all other aspects of their businesses. They will develop their own applications on top of the shared platform to provide distinct features for their customers.
The agreement is currently preliminary, with a final contract expected by the end of 2024. The joint venture is anticipated to be operational in the first quarter of 2025, subject to regulatory approvals.